"WATCHMEN" (2009)

CLOSE ON: A "Have A Nice Day" HAPPY FACE PIN. STEAM rises past the pin. We hear a KETTLE BOILING.

We PULL BACK and find that the pin adorns the lapel of a ROBE worn by EDWARD BLAKE, 50, .but still in his physical prime-- body chiseled, built like a truck. Handsome too, save the LONG SCAR running down the side of his face.

Blake removes the kettle from the stove. He scoops some Asian tea leaves from a can, dumps them in a cup •.•

The apartment is expensive but not quite luxurious. Terrific New York view from the window. Blake lives well, if alone. He hits the REMOTE while still in the kitchen mixing his tea, turning on the big screen TV--"THE MCLAUGHLIN GROUP":

CUT TO: A Satellite video of a bomb EXPLODING in the water--

CUT TO: PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON--

CUT TO.: The cover of the BULLETIN OF ATOMIC SCIENTISTS, with an image of the "Doomsday Clock" on the cover.

/CON'T'TNTTRn\

CUT BACK TO: McLaughlin--

CUT TO: Stock footage of DR. _MANHATTAN--a man, at least he appears to be, who has glowing blue skin. The stock footage shows Dr. Manhattan flying through the air as an ENORMOUS WARHEAD heads straight for him. With a wave of his hand, Dr. Manhattan stops the warhead in its flight--frozen in mid-air-- inches from his face.

With another wave, Dr. Manhattan DETONATES the warhead in an explosion of .•• LEAVES? Colors as brilliant as the northeastern autumn •••

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

Blake snorts as he sits on the couch, changes the channel--

CRASH!--The FRONT DOOR EXPLODES, splintered by a KICK; Blake jumps up, immediately at the ready--

--when we see the INTRUDER'S FEET entering. Slowly. Blake sees the Intruder's face, though we never do--we only see that he's dressed in ALL BLACK, including GLOVES and a KNIT HAT. A look of recognition comes over Blake.

Blake ever so subtly eyes the arm of his couch where a .45 is tucked, hidden • •. With sudden, blinding speed, Blake WHIPS the SAUCER from under his cup, sending it FLYING like a saw- blade. The Intruder BATS IT out of the air with even quicker reflexes, but the act buys Blake time to get to the .45. He's a pro ..

off, the Intruder is already upon him, SNATCHING the gun out of Blake's hand--

--Blake PUNCHES the Intruder in the chest--the Intruder drops the gun. Blake fights. Not like an old man, but like the trained killer he is. But the Intruder is much, much faster. Younger. Deadlier. SMASHING Blake with an elbow to the head.

Blake falls. BLOOD blurs his vision. The Intruder picks Blake up off the ground. Brings him to the window with the great New York view. Thirty stories up. Blake looks the Intruder in the eye ••• and starts laughing. Hysterical.

He laughs. The INTRUDER seems to regard Blake a moment--

--then, with incredible strength, he LIFTS BLAKE OVER HIS HEAD AND THROWS BLAKE THROUGH THE WINDOW. Blake never makes a sound as he plummets to the sidewalk.

CLOSE ON: Blake's dead body. His eyes are wide open, not in fear, but in resignation. As BLOOD starts to POOL behind his head, we move to the happy face pin Blake wore, now on the sidewalk by his neck. We slowly ZOOM IN on the pin as blood DRIPS on it ••.

( CONTINTrnn \

TITLE SEQUENCE: (Set to.Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A- Changin'.") Through a MONTAGE of news footage, headlines and photographs, we're brought into the alternate reality our film is set in. An alternate reality where we have superheroes, where America won Vietnam--we see footage of Nixon in Vietnam with his Victory fingers up, standing next to Dr. Manhattan • ..

We see other headlines: "Congress Repeals 22nd Amendment" "Nixon Wins 4th Term in Landslide."

Through news footage we see the Berlin Wall and that the US is in the midst of the Cold War with the USSR.

and we see RIOTS in the US involving a national Police Strike--people protesting the existence of superheroes . •• protesting that leads to Congress passing the Keene Act which outlaws superheroes for good . ..

CLOSE ON: .The happy face pin ••• when the pin is WASHED AWAY. A SHOPKEEPER has his HOSE out, spraying off the blood from the sidewalk. Blake's body is gone, a CHALK OUTLINE in its place. A COP comes running up to the Shopkeeper.

) •.. / COP 1 Hey! This is still a goddamn crime scene!

As they argue, we're back following the happy face pin, as the water carries it to a DRAIN where the pin gets caught

DET. GALLAGHER (older, jaded) and DET. FINE (street worn, but not quite cynical yet) walk through the crime scene. Fine studies the broken window.

5 •

Det. Fine studies it. It's Blake's UNITED NATIONS ID. It reads "Special Advisor, United States."

He picks up a PHOTO from the floor, hands it to Fine.

He leaves Det. Fine to ponder this.

Outside Blake's apartment building. It's later now, businesses closed, people gone.

We MOVE DOWN to the drain where the happy face pin is still stuck. We move into someone's POV. The person picks up the pin in his hand. Then he stares up at the broken window of Blake's apartment, now covered with PLASTIC SHEETING.

The person regards the happy face pin.

I cowrnnrnn,

The person pockets the pin. We move out of the POV and see our guy for the first time--RORSCHACH (roar-shock)--a masked vigilante who wears a trench coat, fedora, and a silver-white MASK with oily BLACK SPOTS moving about, creating shifting, doubled PATTERNS like a Rorschach test. Scary looking.

Rorschach draws a hydraulic GRAPPLING GUN from his coat and FIRES the HOOK AND CABLE THIRTY STORIES UP where it latches itself through Blake's broken window. Pressing RETRACT, Rorschach FLIES UP THE WALL to the 30th floor.

With a grunt, Rorschach pulls himself past the plastic sheeting, through the window, and into Blake's apartment. He investigates, silent.

Blake's clothing hangs in military rows. Rorschach runs his fingers along the wall-seams. He pauses, presses on the hanger BAR, which SLIDES BACK to reveal a RED BUTTON.

Pressing it, the BACK WALL of the closet SLIDES OPEN, revealing a SECRET COMPARTMENT. On the wall is an old FRAMED PHOTO of EIGHT PEOPLE IN COSTUMES, from 1960. Included in this photo is a young Edward Blake--Blake wasn't a spook--he was a superhero.

WEAPONS of all kinds adorn the walls in here. TEAR-GAS, GRENADES, RIFLES, PISTOLS--if it can kill you Blake's got it. But that's not what draws Rorschach's attention.

Hanging on the back wall, dead center, is a more current COSTUME. Black leather armor, gloves, boots. Hanging over it all like a vacant, grinning face--a black leather MASK.

Rorschach stares. Framed nearby is the FRONT PAGE OF THE BOSTON GLOBE. The headline reads "The Comedian Gets Last Laugh on Moloch." Underneath is a photo of Blake dressed in the costume Rorschach was staring at--Blake was a superhero called the Comedian. In the photo, Blake holds a supervillian named MOLOCH prisoner. (We'll meet Moloch later.)

On the same page is a smaller photo of a group of superheroes. Rorschach is in the photo, as is Dr. Manhattan, as is the Comedian. (As are DAN DREIBERG, ADRIAN VEIDT, and LAURIE JUPITER, all of whom we'll be meeting soon). The caption below reads: "The New Watchmen."

Suddenly, Rorschach hears the front door open. He quickly closes the secret hatch.

Two uniformed COPS stand in the doorway.

Cop 1 pulls his gun, going through the motions rather than being concerned. He then enters the bedroom.

Cop 2 stands guard, nervous ... From the bedroom;

Cop 2 relaxes a bit, turns--

--and comes face to "face" with Rorschach, standing inches away. The Cop's face goes slack with childish terror; He goes to yell but Rorschach raises two fingers, "Shhh"--

The fingers JAB INTO THE COP'S WINDPIPE. The cop HISSES and falls silently as Rorschach brushes. past him like a whisper, slipping out the window with his grappling gun •.•

CLOSE ON: A FRAMED PHOTO of the first Watchrnen--identical to the old one in Blake's closet. Holding the photo is HOLLIS MASON. He puts the photo down, but we don't see his face yet.

As he speaks, we PAN ACROSS various FRAMED MEMORABILIA: The first is a NEWSPAPER CLIPPING dated 1950: MYSTERIOUS MASKED MAN CLEANS UP WHARFS--the caption underneath reads "Hero Calls Himself The Nite owl."

PAN ACROSS: Another FRAMED CLIPPING, dated 1953: NITE OWL FORMS WATCHMEN--COSTUMED HEROES COMBINING FORCES! "'We're going to clean up this town!' Says costumed crusader."

PAN ACROSS: A GOLD STATUE of NITE OWL in his Sixties-era costume. The plaque below reads: IN GRATITUDE, 1967. Another clipping: "Hero Retires, Reveals ~dentity In Tell All Book."

Finally, we come to HOLLIS MASON (aka: Nite Owl), 60s, though his eyes sparkle with strength and his face still shows the edges of a born hero. The TV is on in the background.

We see who Hollis is speaking to--DAN DREIBERG (the second Nite Owl), 30s, handsome, though he's let himself go the past few years--his edges have gone soft. He was in the photo of the new Watchmen in Blake's apartment.

I ..-.,-...-.-rm"T'"-..'TT"TT:'1""" \

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

Dan stands, finishes his beer. Hollis sees him to the door.

Before Dan can comment, a breaking news report comes on TV:

They watch as an image of Rorschach flashes on screen.

As he heads down the stairs--

/CONTINUED\

CONTINUED: ( 3 )

Dan smiles, dry, like a man who hasn't had a hot date in a long, long time.

Dan descends the stairs. He pulls up his collar against the cold and walks down an alley. A SIGN below Hollis' apartment reads: "MASON AUTO REPAIRS--Obsolete models a specialty!"

Dan rides the subway, lost in thought. Across from him is an AD POSTER which reads: "VACATION CUBA." A group of GANG MEMBERS, wearing yellow and black BANDANAS brush past him. ONE stops. Dan's leg is out, a couple inches too far.

Dan finally realizes what he's talking about. Dan meets his eyes, for just a moment .•• and draws back his leg. The Gang Members snicker at Dan as they pass.

Dan walks down the empty street to his TOWNHOUSE, digging for his keys. Then he stops, suddenly alert. ·

His front door hangs slightly OPEN--the LOCK'S been SMASHED. There's a LIGHT on inside. Cautious, Dan enters the house.

Dan quietly approaches the light corning from his kitchen. He hears odd, metal scraping SOUNDS.

Dan enters the kitchen, stunned to find--

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Rorschach sits at the table, mask half up, eating a cold CAN OF BEANS.

Rorschach finishes the can of beans, stands, pulls his mask back down. There's a strong familiarity between the two but at the same time, Dan is wary.

He tosses Blake's happy face pin onto the table. Dan picks it up, runs his fingers over the RED-BROWN SPLOTCH.

Nervous now, Dan glances out the window.

Rorschach follows Dan to a CLOSET, at the end of the hall. Dan opens the closet, revealing an old BOOKSHELF. With some difficulty, Dan PULLS OPEN the HINGED BOOKSHELF with a RUSTY CREAK. STEEL STAIRS lead down into the dark.

The two men descend into Dan's WORKSHOP--the dusty remnants of a hero's LAB; Old computers and an OWL-COSTUME, hanging in a locker. No one has been down here for years. In the center of the space, an OVAL VEHICLE the size of a subway car is covered by a dusty TARP--the OWl-Ship.

Dan hesitates.

Rorschach turns to walk off down a long, dark TUNNEL.

Rorschach disappears into the SUBWAY TUNNEL, leaving Dan to reminisce alone. Dan glances at his old costume hanging.

A towering, shining skyscraper. At the 50th floor there is a HUGE V-SHAPED HOLE where WATER FALLS.

A mammoth lobby. Persian decor; Dan approaches a beautiful ASSISTANT behind an imposing desk.

Dan smiles, flirtatious. All he gets is an icy stare back.

Dan glares at her. She glares right back. A game of chicken. She reluctantly gets up, goes inside the office.

Once she's gone, Dan's glare disappears, replaced by nervousness. Because he's not sure if Adrian will see him-- it's been a long time. He glances at the SECURITY GUARDS eyeing him. Finally, the Assistant returns.

Dan enters the enormous office--there are three TV feeds PROJECTED onto the walls, architectural models of real estate developments, ad campaigns for "Nostalgia" perfume--all reflecting the financial empire of Veidt Enterprises owned by-

f ,-.""'--,."'fm"T",.TTT'r."I.,.._ \

--ADRIAN VEIDT, late 30s, movie star looks, at the far end of the office, being photographed by ANNIE LEIBOWITZ (with entourage) as journalist DOUG ROTH holds a tape recorder to him.

Adrian sees Dan approaching, smiles wide. He holds up a finger, telling Dan to hold on a sec. Dan nods, sits on the couch. Picks up a Forbes magazine with Adrian on the cover.

DOUG ,ROTH Mr. Veidt, would you acknowledge that you are considered the world's smartest man?

She photographs Adrian as he unbuttons his shirt .•• we see his perfect chiseled frame--Adrian is a physical specimen.

At the other end of the room, Dan re~ds the Forbes article on Adrian.• There is a photo of Adrian in costume and a photo of him and Dr. Manhattan in suits, shaking hands.

CONTINUED: ( 2.)

Doug Roth, Leibowitz and entourage leave. Adrian hugs Dan.

Dan and Adrian sit, talking over coffee. Dan examines an ACTION-FIGURE of. OZYMANDIAS--the packaging explains that this was Adrian's superhero alias.

On cue, the Assistant enters; Dan quiets.

She says as she plugs a FLOPPY DISK into Adrian's computer.

She leaves as Adrian picks up the phone. He speaks in flawless Spanish, and then:

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Adrian continues in Spanish and then hangs up, turns to Dan.

Adrian notices the news on one of his TV projectors: Members of the Soviet Army at the firing range. Taped to the head of their targets are photos of the head of Dr. Manhattan.

A SIGN posted on a RAZOR-WIRE FENCE reads: ROCKEFELLER MILITARY RESEARCH CENTER. An M16-toting GUARD stands at the gate checking the back of a NUCLEAR WASTE TRUCK. After a moment, he waves the truck through.

The truck pulls up to the loading dock. The DRIVER heads inside.

Inside the truck are STEEL DRUMS OF NUCLEAR WASTE. One of the drums OPENS ... and Rorschach quietly crawls out

Rorschach makes his way down the hall, careful. He pauses in front of a doorway before entering--

--a huge room, which contains technologically advanced ')

)

MILITARY DEVICES. Distorted in sections of GLASS, we see the \ ___ _.,, REFLECTION of a HU?E MAN, GLOWING BRIGHT BLUE--

--and we see DR. MANHATTAN (formerly Jon Osterman) for the very first time. He is SIXTY FEET TALL, BLUE LIGHT ripples from his skin, emanating pure power--he is God on earth. He works on a REACTOR--telekinetically moving parts in the air-- not even looking at Rorschach. It's as if Dr. Manhattan already knew he was coming.

Dr. Manhattan creates a BALL OF ENERGY and commands it into the reactor when his girlfriend, LAURIE JUPITER, 30, very much in her prime, enters from the other end.

Dr. Manhattan shrinks from sixty to six feet in size. He speaks in a cold, even, matter of fact manner.

CONTINUED: (2)

With a look, Dr. Manhattan makes Rorschach disappear.

Rorschach materializes down the road from the base.

Realizing what just happened, Rorschach checks himself, his surroundings. Reorients himself. With nothing else he can do, he heads down the road.

Dr. Manhattan resumes his work. He looks distracted.

Dr. Manhattan pauses for a moment, thoughtful.

Dr. Manhattan touches her head--

Laurie's childhood home. We're in Laurie's POV, as a little girl. There's arguing downstairs. Laurie goes down to investigate.

She comes upon the kitchen door, ajar. She can see her PARENTS inside, arguing--

Back in the present, Laurie pulls away from Dr. Manhattan's touch. That memory seems to be painful for her.

I know. I think I've been cooped up on this base for too long. Rorschach mentioned Dan Dreiberg--we haven't seen him in years. Maybe we can give him a call, see if he's available for dinner tonight.

Laurie, dressed up and looking gorgeous, heads out when she's stopped by SECRET SERVICE AGENT FORBES.

She tries to walk past but Forbes steps in front of her.

Forbes lingers for a moment then does. As she passes--

Laurie glares at him.

We move down the beautifully lit New York City skyline, passing the Brooklyn Bridge ... the Statue of Liberty and the 'l;'win Towers of the World Trade Center •..

We hear the LAUGHTER--

--of Dan and Laurie as they finish up their meal at this trendy restaurant.

They look at each other, serious, then explode in laughter. Dan looks at her as she finishes her coffee. We can see he's smitten with her and that he probably has been for years. Laurie seems oblivious.

--.,,_ ~;\ LAURIE ,J ,, Sorry, sorry, that's not funny.

Their laughter subsides to sudden silence.

The WAITER arrives with the check; Laurie grabs it.

Laurie nods out the window. Dan turns and sees a GOVERNMENT SEDAN parked outside.

They're quiet a moment. Laurie glances at her watch.

Dan and Laurie step outside.

Days later. A few mourners gather in the rain for Edward Blake aka The Comedian's funeral. Mostly government types. Dan, Adrian and Dr. Manhattan line the edge of an open grave.

Laurie MATERIALIZES in the hallway of her mother's condo in California. She immediately runs to the bathroom.

Bright California sunshine gleams over this upscale condo facility. Laurie's mother, SALLY, 50s but looks in her 40s, lies by the POOL. She hears someone VOMITING in her condo.

Sally steps through the sliding glass doors as we hear the toilet FLUSHING. Laurie wobbles out of the bathroom.

Sally pours herself a margarita from a pitcher on the counter. We see photos, remnants of Sally from her crimefighting days around the condo.

Laurie nods. (From here on, intercut between Blake's funeral and Sally's condo)

FUNERAL: Blake's coffin is removed from the hearse.

FUNERAL: Blake's coffin is carried past Adrian, Dan and Dr. Manhattan.

Sally reaches into a drawer and pulls out the old photo of the Watchmen, the same one with Blake and Hollis Mason in it.

QUICK FLASH(BACK): As Sally and the Watchmen get their "team" photo taken. The Watchmen disperse. Sally, wearing a revealing outfit (for the time period, at least), moves into the next room--

A younger Blake eyes her with lust, then quietly follows--

BACK TO PRESENT: Sally continues holding the team photo. She stops at Blake, regarding him--

Sally tries to fight back desperately, CLAWING at the Comedian's face; The Comedian PUNCHES her in the nose.

The Comedian RIPS OFF Sally's pants. He's about to force himself on her when Hollis Mason runs in, YANKS Blake off--

A PRIEST stands before the crowd.

As the Priest speaks, we move down the row of mourners, stopping at Dr. Manhattan looking into Blake's grave ..

MATCH CUT TO: Dr. Manhattan. Walking. We PULL BACK and see that he is 100 feet tall, walking through the jungle as VIETCONG SOLDIERS flee in- terror.

Dr. Manhattan shoots ENERGY BEAMS at the soldiers, expressionless, as if he's walking the dog.

Just ahead of him is Blake, spraying everything he can with a FLAMETHROWER. Blake is smiling . ..

Dr. Manhattan nails a GROUP of Vietcong with an energy beam-- they BURST INTO FLAMES ...

MATCH CUT TO: In the night sky, a BURST of FIREWORKS. outside, a CROWD of Vietnamese people CHEER.

A young Blake sits in a derelict Saigon bar, mean drunk. His face is devoid of his trademark scar.

They both turn. A pretty VIETNAMESE GIRL stands in the door. She's pregnant, just starting to show.

-·._..·•-.:

-CONTINUED:

Blake SLAMS his glass down. He glares at her, dangerous.

He turns away. Her eyes blaze with betrayal and hatred.

She SMASHES a bottle. Blake turns just as the broken SHARDS SLASH HIS FACE, slicing him his jagged scar.

BLAKE· You bitch! My face!

He PUSHES HER into the bar and DRAWS HIS PISTOL--

BLAM! Blake shoots her; the Girl SLAMS against the far wall. She drops, dead.

Blake turns on him, spitting fury.

Blake walks off shouting "Medic!" Dr. Manhattan turns to the girl's body and regards it, curious .. MATCH CUT TO:

Dr. Manhattan looking down at Blake's grave. We move down to Adrian • . .

A younger Adrian, dressed as Oxymandias, leads the meeting of the "new" Watchmen. In attendance is Dan, fit and trim in full Nite Owl regalia, Rorschach and a teenage Laurie, dressed in her tight spandex costume. Dan can't take his eyes off of her. She glances at him--the two lock eyes. He smiles. She looks as if she's going to smile back when--

--Dr. Manhattan, his age unchanged, materializes with his girlfriend JANEY SLATER. Laurie's attention immediately turns from Dan to Dr. Manhattan, much to Dan's disappointment. Dr. Manhattan grins, whispers something in Janey's ear. Janey giggles when Dr. Manhattan notices Laurie smiling at him ..

We now notice Blake, 37, smoking a CIGAR, feet on the table, a FLASK in one hand, NEWSPAPER in the other. The headline reads: "Soviets Call Dr. Manhattan 'An Imperialist Weapon."

Rorschach's voice is quiet, not yet its tortured rasp.

---

He stands, moving to Adrian's DISPLAY which outlines the Watchmen's agenda: GANGS, RACKETEERING, DRUGS. Blake flicks his ZIPPO and the display GOES UP IN FLAMES.

He sneers and walks out. Silence. Uncomfortable in the wake of truth, the others pack up to go, muttering apologies to Adrian, but Adrian ignores them, staring at the flames flickering across his face. He seems more thoughtful than upset. MATCH CUT TO:

Adrian, moving down to Dan as we FADE TO:

A NEWSPAPER BOX. The headlines: "Cops Say: 'Let Them Do It'," "Senator Keene Proposes Emergency Bill Banning Vigilantism." PAN UP TO REVEAL: The streets JAMMED with ANGRY PROTESTORS, waving signs decrying vigilantes.

ANGLE ON: AN OVAL AIRSHIP--the OWL-SHIP--its forward windows sculpted like the eyes of a great owl. Dan, in costume, pilots the ship. The Comedian stands outside the ship, in one of the "owl eyes," wielding a MACHINE GUN.

The Comedi:an gets HIT IN THE HEAD by a flying SODA CAN.

Smiling grimly, he FIRES TEAR GAS CANNISTERS INTO THE CROWD.

The Comedian DIVES into the crowd, knocking random people aside with his rifle butt, then starts firing rubber bullets into the crowd. The protestors scatter and retreat.

Dan lands the owl Ship, exits wearing a GAS MASK with one for Blake.

The Comedian spots a TEENAGER SPRAY PAINTING his protest on a BRICK WALL. He takes careful aim with his rifle--

Too late--the Comedian FIRES and nails the Teenager in the EYE with a rubber bullet; The Teenager SHRIEKS in pain.

The comedian advances, but Dan holds him back, allowing the Teenager to escape. The Comedian KNOCKS Dan's arm off of him.

Dan and Blake lock eyes for a moment.

Blake glares at him, saying nothing. He SNATCHES the gas mask from Dan and puts it on, turning toward the smoke filled streets.

The smoke clears enough for Dan to see the Teen's spray painted protest: "WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN?"

Blake laughs, exultant in the blowing smoke, the chaos.

CONTINUED: (2)

CLOSE ON: the happy face pin on Blake's costume. MATCH CUT TO-

--Dan fingering Blake's happy face pin.

Dan DROPS the pin into Blake's grave. The mourners linger a moment as dirt is shoveled onto Blake's casket, then start filing out. Adrian, Dan, Dr. Manhattan say their good-byes.

None of them notice one particular mourner all the way in the back--a LONE MAN, who we follow as he walks away.

The Lone Man leaves quickly.

The Lone Man removes his hat and coat. He is old, withered. He is EDGAR JACOBI. In his younger days, he was a supervillain known as MOLOCH--we recognize him from the news

Moloch goes to the REFRIGERATOR, opens it. Then stops, staring. There is a scrawled NOTE inside. Moloch picks it up-- in spiky handwriting it reads: "LOOK BEHIND YOU."

Over Moloch's shoulder Rorschach's hat-brim TILTS UP. As Moloch turns, Rorschach lunges, FINS Moloch's ARM behind his back and SLAMS him to the floor.

I ,_. ,,.._,-,.~ "T",'TTTT'.1,-... \

Rorschach TWISTS the man's arm back viciously.

Rorschach lets him go. Moloch's hollow eyes follow him.

Rorschach SLAMS Moloch against the wall.

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

FLASHBACK: Of the Comedian in Moloch's BEDROOM, sitting on the bed, BOTTLE OF WHISKY in hand

END FLASHBACK. Rorschach studies Moloch a moment, then releases him.

Rorschach glances around the kitchen. He opens some drawers, looking.inside. Picks up a stack of MAIL, flips through it. One of the envelopes contains a PENSION CHECK from "Pyramid Industries." He rifles through the drawer some more and finds a PILL BOTTLE. He examines it

CONTINUED: ( 3)

(holds up pill bottle) Laetril. Phony medication made from apricot pits. Illegal.

CLOSE ON: Rorschach blasting through the night air as the city streams by. This close, he appears to be flying.

CUT WIDE: To reveal he is actually PERCHED ATOP AN ELEVATED SUBWAY CAR. Just one way he gets around.

Rorschach stands alone over Blake's fresh grave. Paying his proper.respects.

FLASH TO: Blake, the night of his murder, turning as his door is kicked in.

FLASH TO: Adrian's display burning.

FLASHES OF: The group photo of the old Watchmen. Then the photo of the new Watchmen.

FLASHES OF: Blake being beaten in his apartment.

Blake is KICKED in the stomach.

Blake in Vietnam, cackling as he blasts his flamethrower.

Blake is lifted up by the Intruder's hands.

A bloodied Blake laughs at the Intruder.

I r1,-..-.."TmT1'"TT'T~T"\ \

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

ULTRA-SLOW, Blake crashes through his apartment window.

Blake FLIES TOWARD FRAME on his silent trip to the ground-- the happy face pin falls off of him.

Blake FALLS INTO FRAME--GO BLACK • • •

CLOSE ON: Laurie, eyes closed with pleasure, as Dr~ Manhattan's GLOWING BLUE HANDS caress her face.

Eyes still closed, she does not see a THIRD BLUE HAND trace a line down her cheek. She kisses it.

She opens her eyes. They widen in shock and horror as she sees TWO DR. MANHATTANS in bed with her.

Laurie jumps up. The two Dr. Manhattans stand, confused.

DR. MANHATTAN 1 DR. MANHATTAN 2 Please don't be upset. I thought you'd enjoy it.

Laurie backs into the hall, trying to get a grip.

Laurie can now see into the LABORATORY, where yet a THIRD DR. MANHATTAN stands before a VIDEO CONFERENCE SCREEN speaking to TWO SCIENTISTS. Laurie's eyes blaze.

(The Scientists on the video screen look away, embarrassed.)·

Laurie WHIPS a full BEAKER at 3's chest. It PASSES THROUGH HIM and SMASHES ON THE FLOOR. Laurie storms out.

A Fourth Dr. Manhattan splits from number 3, addressing the Scientists.

The reactor Dr. Manhattan was working on earlier DISAPPEARS then REAPPEARS on screen where the Scientists are. BACK TO:

As he speaks, the smashed BEAKER and its contents RISE INTO THE AIR, REASSEMBLING perfectly in the palm of 3's hand.

IN THE HALL: Laurie nearly bumps into Dr. Manhattan 2.

I ..-. ,-,.,.,,.,.,-r,-rTTT'"tT-,. \

CONTINUED: (2)

The door slams. Laurie's left. For good.

Dr. Manhattan 2 stands there. He walks back to the BEDROOM where 1 is. Dr. Manhattan 1 holds an OLD PHOTO. In the photo is a COUPLE, smiling into the camera. We recognize the woman as Janey Slater, Dr. Manhattan's ex-girlfriend, who we saw in Adrian's flashback at Blake's funeral. We recognize the man in the photo as ... Dr. Manhattan. When he was human.

Dr. Manhattan stares at the photo. Perhaps feeling the tingle of human emotion again .•

Dan heats up some leftover Chinese food in the microwave as the TV plays in the background--"LARRY KING LIVE":

BOOM, BOOM! Dan looks up. Someone's banging on the door.

Dan approaches the door, cautious, mask killer on his mind?

It takes a few moments for him to open the door.

Dan pours a teary eyed Laurie a glass of RED WINE.

INTERCUT TO: Dr. Manhattan, holding Laurie's BRA. Staring.

Dr. Manhattan lowers his head. A SHADOW FALLS OVER HIM. He looks up to see a THREE PIECE SUIT floating before him--

Dan and Laurie walk the streets, getting some air.

They pass A NEWS STAND, where a BLACK TEEN sits against a fire hydrant, losing himself in a comic book: "Tales of the Black Freighter." A HOMELESS MAN, wearing a SHIRT that reads "Fuck Communism,".argues with the NEWS VENDOR:

They turn as SEYMOUR, a fat slob of a man, arrives.with a BUNDLE of the latest issue of "The New Frontiersman."

CUT TO: Dr. Manhattan stepping THROUGH and INTO the empty, floating suit. His TIE knots itself.

Dr. Manhattan looks around the empty room .. • sad? Again, he looks at the photo of him and Janey Slater .. then DISAPPEARS IN A BURST OF PARTICLES.

Dan and Laurie turn down a darker, less populated street.

SHADOWS trail behind them, ominous. Someone's following.

The main waiting area. People go about their jobs. The RECEPTIONIST hears a strange, electric CRACKLING.

Suddenly, Dr. Manhattan appears in a burst of energy. The receptionist SHRIEKS. The PRODUCER looks out his office.

The light from Dr. Manhattan's SKIN DARKENS to a DEEPER BLUE. ,

Dan and Laurie turn down an alley. We now see who's following them--a group of YOUNG THUGS. .

A White House PRESS AGENT escorts Dr. Manhattan to the set. Secret Service surround Dr. Manhattan--more of a gesture since he's the last person on Earth who would need security.

Dr. Manhattan stands off stage, waiting. The LIGHTS come up. and we're live with TED KOPPEL.

CUT TO: Dan and Laurie turning as the Young Thugs BLOCK THE ALLEYWAY. One of the Thugs pulls a KNIFE. Laurie and Dan exchange a look. Dan removes his glasses. CUT ~ACK TO:

The audience APPLAUDS loudly as Dr. Manhattan takes his seat.

CUT TO: Dan and Laurie surrounded by the Thugs . when suddenly they DIVE INTO the group, fighting like the heroes they once were.

Dan grapples with one of the Thugs and knocks his knife away.

(Doug Roth is the journalist who interviewed Adrian earlier.)

CUT TO: Laurie, driving a FIST into a Thug's NOSE; Dan KNEES a Thug in the STOMACH, then SLAMS him into a WALL.

Another Thug GRABS LAURIE'S HAIR and pulls a PISTOL on her. Dan sees this and his eyes harden .••

CONTINUED: (2)

CUT BACK TO: Doug Roth:

Ted Koppel looks confused.

CUT TO: Dan slowly approaching Laurie being held at gunpoint by the Thug. Dan and Laurie make eye contact •••

• • • and Laurie quickly GRABS the Thug's wrist and the gun and JERKS her hands forward and her backside out. The Thug loses the gun and his balance--

--Once Laurie is clear, Dan comes in with a FLYING KICK, finishing the Thug off. BACK TO:

CONTINUED: (3)

An appalled then angry buzz comes over the audience.

Suddenly, Janey Slater appears just offstage. Older now, frail, barely recognizable from the images we've seen of her.

The studio cameras try to get an angle on her.

/ f"'fll..Tl'TlT"'--YTTt:"IT"'\ \

CONTINUED: (4)

She leaves as fast as she came, bursting into tears. Dr. Manhattan stands, visibly shaken--

The Press Agent hurries on stage, security following.

BACK TO: The alley, littered with the unconscious BODIES of the Thugs. Laurie and Dan lean back on the wall, gasping for air, horribly out of shape, but victorious. They look at each other--their faces very close, intimate even ... and then it's uncomfortable.

CUT TO: The TV studio, as Secret Service surround Dr. Manhattan, trying to escort him out. The audience spills out of the stands, RUSHING Dr. Manhattan with questions and FLASHING cameras--it's madness •.

His plea is futile of course. A REPORTER breaks through, gets in Dr. Manhattan's face.

CONTINUED: ( 5)

Dr. Manhattan finally SNAPS--

Every last person BURSTS INTO PARTICLES and DISAPPEARS. Dr. Manhattan is suddenly alone. He looks stunned almost.

The TV audience materializes out on the roof ...

Dan and Laurie exit the quiet alley, trying to play it off.

Laurie entertains the idea for a moment.

Hollis opens the door for Dan--

Dan turns to the TV, which replays the clip of Dr. Manhattan being accosted and then teleporting everyone to the roof.

Laurie stops at a corner for a much needed cigarette when--

--A BLACK SUV pulls up to the curp. Secret Service. Laurie dashes across the street--

--and INTO THE PARK, through the relative safety of the mist- shrouded trees •.. but behind her ANOTHER SUV BUMPS UP OVER THE CURB, driving into the park.

Ahead, the first SUV comes ACROSS THE GRASS, boxing her in. A gang of Secret Service, led by Agent Forbes surrounds her.

An Agent goes for her arm--she ELBOWS him in the ribs, then the head. The other Agents go for their guns--

~- __ · ~" - . ~··· · .. __

Agent Forbes paces impatiently around a seated Laurie, with two other Agents.

Ms. Jupiter, did you and Dr. Manhattan have a fight today?

Suddenly Laurie grabs Agent Forbes' head and SLAMS it into the table--

The other two Agents move in, but Forbes raises his hand for them to stop. Blood trickles from his nose.

Laurie says nothing, grasping the ramifications.

I rnN'T'Tl\TTilcn'

Agent Forbes hands her a cigarette. Takes out a ZIPPO, sparks it. Laurie stares at the FLAME .•

burns. Laurie glances around as everyone leaves, apologizing to Adrian. She eyes Dr. Manhattan leaving with Janey Slater.

outside Watchmen HQ, Dan's owl Ship rises out of view. Rorschach skulks off into the shadows. Laurie watches Dr. Manhattan and Janey Slater get into a Town Car--Dr. Manhattan looks back and smiles at her. Laurie's about to wave back when--

Startled, Laurie turns. Blake steps out of the shadows.

Blake lights a smoke, looks her over.

As Blake gives her a light, Laurie touches his hand to cover the lighter from the wind. She looks up at him, sly.

Laurie nearly jumps out of her skin. A younger Sally marches toward them from a LIMO, waiting at the sidewalk.

INSIDE THE LIMO: Laurie cracks her window an inch. Her mother's harsh, low tone drifts clearly back.

Driving off, Laurie watches Blake through the window--

BACK TO PRESENT: Laurie smokes when a TECHNICIAN bursts in.

The Technician pauses, looking at all the eyes on him.

We're in SPACE, looking down at the planet Mars, when we ZOOM IN, fast, landing on A VAST MARTIAN PLAIN, and the tiny BLUE FIGURE, walking across it, RED DUST BILLOWING behind him.

Dr. Manhattan stops, looking over the landscape. He holds the photo of him and Janey Slater in his hand, when he was human. He stares at the photo a moment and closes his eyes--

--and we FLASHBACK to the moment that photo was taken. He and Janey are at a CARNIVAL, After the flash, Janey turns to him.

He pulls her close. They giggle like the young lovers they are • •• and then kiss, passionate • •• When they're playfully interrupted by WALLY WEAVER and his DATE.

DR. MANHATT~ (V.O.) (CONT'D) We were introduced by a good friend of mine from college, Wally Weaver.

BACK TO: Jon, Janey, Wally and his Date, making their way through the carnival.

BACK TO: Dr. Manhattan walking on Mars' surface. He approaches a LARGE ROCK FORMATION which blocks his path.

He PARTS the rock formation telekinetically, like Moses parting the sea--

--and we FLASHBACK, MATCH CUTTING to the parting of two SLIDING DOORS, in the LAB OF A NUCLEAR TESTING FACILITY, as Jon steps into the REAC~OR CHAMBER--

CONTINUED: (2)

Jon backs into the chamber without noticing the DIGITAL CLOCK above the doors counting down: 3 •.• 2 •.. 1--"TIME LOCK INITIATED" --the doors CLOSE • . •

Jon's lab COLLEAGUES look on in horror as Jon retrieves his WATCH, oblivious.

They try to open the door, but it's no use--the time lock can't be overridden. Janey arrives, SCREAMS when she sees Jon inside. Jon hears the hum of the REACTOR INITIATING, the big mechanical parts moving. Jon BANGS on the door.

TEARS stream down Janey's face as she looks at him through the thick glass, helpless, hopeless. Inside, the chamber starts to GLOW . ••

Janey can't bear to watch--she runs out of the lab as the reactor initiates.

QUICK FLASH(BACK): Of Jon and Janey in a BAR. Meeting for the first time.

( rnN'T'Tl\TTll<'f'\ \

CONTINUED: ( 3 )

BACK TO: Jon stuck in the chamber, as Janey leaves. With a BLINDING FLASH--Jon and his watch are OBLITERATED to bits.

table, crying softly, being consoled by her colleagues.

CUT TO: OUTSIDE THE NUCLEAR FACILITY, by the barbed wire fences, A DISEMBODIED BRAIN, A SET OF EYES, AND A SPINAL COLUMN MATERIALIZES • • •

BACK TO: Dr. Manhattan on Mars, as he RISES into the air. At a thought, the RED SAND FUSES into a beautiful, PINK GLASS STRUCTURE--

--and we FLASHBACK to the cafeteria KITCHEN as a COOK SHRIEKS at A WALKING NETWORK OF HUMAN VEINS--

BACK TO: The pink glass structure on Mars which SPREADS OUT INTO COMPLEX GLASS PATTERNS, RISING FROM THE PLAIN at Dr. Manhattan's command--

--and we FLASHBACK to the cafeteria HALLWAY as a SKELETON passes two terrified GUARDS • ••

BACK TO: Dr. Manhattan, now dwarfed by the RISING, EVOLVING GLASS STRUCTURE, which begins to resemble parts of a WATCH--

--and we FLASHBACK to the cafeteria. Janey's still crying. One of her Colleagues reaches for her hand when STATIC SPARKS snap around them. All over the cafeteria, the METAL UTENSILS begin to SPARK. In the center of the room, GLOWING BLUE PARTICLES begin to collect, SLAMMING INTO EACH OTHER with amazing force • •.

• • • and in a BLINDING FLASH, THE PARTICLES FORM DR. MANHATTAN, hovering over the room like a newborn god.

Everyone in the cafeteria looks up in awe, in fear and--

--recognition.

CONTINUED: (4)

BACK TO: Mars, where Dr. Manhattan's GLASS PALACE rises in its full glory. A home fit for a god.

--and we FLASHBACK to an old NEWSCAST.

We see the stock footage we saw of Dr. Manhattan earlier, as it is filmed live, when he transforms the nuclear warhead into leaves. He returns to the ground where he greets the awaiting GENERALS with a military salute

We see Vietcong surrendering--BOWING at the.feet of Dr. Manhattan. Dr. Manhattan looks baffled, not sure how to take their worship. We cut to a news interview with Wally Weaver.

The Newscast cuts to an interview with Hollis Mason.

QUICK FLASHES: Of Dr. Manhattan 100 feet tall, blasting Vietcong. Of him making a MOBSTER'S head EXPLODE. Of him turning a group of TERRORISTS to ASH.

I ,...,,-y~,'TmT,."rT1"T:'I,-..,

CONTINUED: (5)

We cut back to the news interview with Wally Weaver:

We see Dr. Manhattan and President Nixon in China, shaking hands with Mao Zedong in front of the Tiananmen Gate.

A single TEAR rolls down Janey's face. Dr. Manhattan smiles, turns the tear into a DIAMOND • •• and then to a DIAMOND RING. Janey beams. As Dr. Manhattan kisses her--

BACK TO: Dr. Manhattan and Janey as the Watchmen meeting breaks. Janey drags Dr. Manhattan away--

CONTINUED: ( 6 )

BACK TO PRESENT: As Dr. Manhattan stands before his Glass Palace on Mars.

QUICK FLASHES: Of WAR; Of Russian tanks on the move,,. of American fighter jets; Of Dr. Manhattan at the Watchmen meeting; Of Dr. Manhattan with the Comedian in Vietnam; Of the police strike riots; Of Dr. Manhattan with Adrian, being experimented on by a group of scientists; Of Rorschach visiting him; Of Laurie throwing the beaker at him; Of him being rushed by the crowd at the TV interview; Of him screaming and teleporting the crowd away--

BACK TO: Dr. Manhattan regarding his Palace on Mars, then looking down at the photo in his hand, of him and Janey at the carnival. After a moment, he opens his hand, letting the photo FALL to the ground •.. and heads up the steps of his creation.

PULL OUT FROM: A SATELLITE IMAGE of MARS. TECHNICIANS buzz this way and that, desperate.

Laurie sits in the room, largely forgotten.

Agent Forbes gives her a look.

Laurie heads to the bathroom, trailed by Agent Forbes. As she reaches the bathroom door--

--she suddenly SPINS and ELBOWS the agent in the GROIN. Agent Forbes buckles; Laurie grabs him by his coat, SHOVES his head through the bathroom door and SLAMS THE DOOR on his head.

Laurie drags the groggy Forbes into the bathroom. She takes his GUN, yanks his RADIO off, then pulls two FLEX-TIES from his belt. She binds his hands and feet with the ties.

Laurie pulls some PAPER TOWELS and STUFFS them in his mouth.

Laurie pokes her head out the door. Seeing that the coast is clear, she slips away.

Dan sleeps peacefully in his bed when a SHADOW moves over Dan •.• dropping a NEWSPAPER on his LAP, waking Dan with a gasp. Rorschach hovers beside the bed.

Dan reads the headline: "DR. MANHATTAN LEAVES EARTH."

.. --·-... ... , ....,... ·•···.-.... ~•

Rorschach turns for the door as Dan reads the story.

AIR FORCE ONE lands at the headquarters of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. (NORAD)

A HUGE MAP OF THE WORLD is displayed on screen, tracking movements. President Nixon and his ADVISORS look up at it.

An image of the "Doomsday Clock" comes on screen.

/ f'""ll'""••t,TmT"I.TTTT:'t,-.. \

The room goes silent. President Nixon calms himself.

PRESIDENT NIXON {CONT'D) Now what about the rest of the Warsaw Pact countries?

Everyone looks at the screen as the war game scenario unfolds-

";_.....,..,.,·r

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

They're all quiet for a moment.

Erlichman and Haldeman make a face.

, JAMES SCHLESINGER Mr. President, I strongly urge--

Adrian steps off the elevator when he's met by his Assistant.

/ ;,,-,..ll.TmT-,.TTTT'.'IT"\ \

As they walk across the lobby, a MAN in a TRENCHCOAT approaches. He DRAWS A GUN, aims it at Adrian ...

BANG! The man misses, SHOOTS the Assistant in the gut; Adrian immediately springs into action--he moves with unbelievable speed and quickness, grabbing a velvet ROPE-STANCHION--

--DEFLECTING A SECOND BULLET with it--

--and SMASHING IT INTO THE FACE OF THE ASSASSIN, knocking him into a FOUNTAIN.

SECURITY GUARDS run, guns drawn, toward the fountain where Adrian GRAPPLES with the dazed man.

He JAMS his fingers into the Assassin's mouth--

The Assassin's eyes BULGE •

The Assassin CHOKES • and dies. Adrian DROPS him, unanswered, frustrated.

Dan drives while Laurie slumps low in the backseat, keeping out of sight.

Dan turns, looks at her. Laurie smiles.

Rorschach investigates the apartment of ROY CHESS, Adrian's would-be assassin. The place is decent but messy.

Rorschach spots a PORNO MAG on the coffee table. On the couch nearby, a pair of PANTS. Rorschach picks them up, reaches into the pockets. He pulls out some cash, credit cards--

_:...and an ID for Pyramid Industries. It says Chess was a security guard ·

at Moloch's house. Same LOGO--Pyramid Industries.

We're in Rorschach's POV as he walks down the street. From the non-reaction of passers by, he obviously doesn't have his mask on. He passes two RELIGIOUS GROUPS arguing. One appears to be a devout Christian group, the other hold signs that read "Manhattan Church for Manhattan" proposing Dr. Manhattan as the deity. They argue while CITY WORKERS PAINT a SIGN indicating the entrance to a FALLOUT SHELTER

Rorschach studies Roy Chess' ID as he approaches a TRASH CAN. He rummages through it and finds an ENVELOPE. He opens it and finds a NOTE that reads: "Tonight 11:30, M."

Rorschach turns down an alley, approaches a DUMPSTER. He reaches behind it.

Still in his POV, we watch him put each article on. Then he pulls out his MASK.

Rorschach pulls his mask on, FILLING THE SCREEN ...

CLOSE ON: MOLOCH'S EYES staring fearfully out the rainy window. Rorschach APPEARS in the darkness behind him.

Moloch sits at the kitchen table. CLOSE ON: MOLOCH'S HAND. An ignored CIGARETTE smolders. In his other hand, a NOTE.

Rorschach turns. A HOLE gapes between Moloch's staring eyes. A PISTOL lies on the table--Moloch's dead.

Rorschach carefully pulls the NOTE from Moloch's hand. It's the note Rorschach had left in Moloch's refrigerator, the one that reads: "LOOK BEHIND YOU."

Behind Rorschach, BLINDING LIGHT GLARES THROUGH THE WINDOW.

I rnN'T'Tl\TTTH'1"'1 \

Moloch's corpse stares at Rorschach. Rorschach TEARS OPEN the cupboards, pulling items off the shelves.

Rorschach takes an AEROSOL CAN and a PEPPER SHAKER.

Rorschach's mask DISAPPEARS back into darkness.

CRASH! Moloch's door is SMASHED OPEN. Armed SWAT COPS swarm in, but no more than three can fit in the narrow entry way.

SWAT Cop 1 moves down the hall, carelessly ahead of formation-

--BEHIND HIM, Rorschach APPEARS out of the darkness. He IGNITES the AEROSOL CAN'S STREAM, SPRAYING THE COPS WITH FIRE. They fall back, screaming, shooting. SWAT Cop 1 catches the worst of it--he DROPS AND ROLLS on the floor, trying to extinguish the flames on him.

Rorschach BOLTS upstairs, IGNITING the staircase behind him. Pandemonium.

SWAT COPS top the 2nd floor landing, already lit by fire.

Rorschach APPEARS, blowing PEPPER INTO COP 2'S EYES.

SWAT Cop 3 CLEARS his line of fire ••. and finds Rorschach AIMING THE GRAPPLING GUN AT HIS CHEST.

The hook BLOWS the body-armored cop OVER THE RAILING.

Det. Gallagher and Fine watch from behind a LINE OF COP CARS. The house is now BLAZING. Smoke and men's screams drift out.

From the second floor, Rorschach SMASHES THROUGH THE WINDOW, snarling like a rabid dog, landing hard on the concrete. His ankle TWISTS, dropping him to the ground.

Rorschach struggles to get to his feet. When he looks up he finds TWENTY COPS IN A SEMI-CIRCLE before him. A loaded, pregnant pause. The COPS RUSH FORWARD.

But Rorschach holds up a gloved hand. And they all stop, unsure what this lunatic will do next.

He beckons them forward. The cops PILE INTO HIM. Rorschach brutally disables six cops before he is overwhelmed.

A Cop KICKS HIM in the throat. Rorschach drops again.

The Cop peels back the shifting mask to reveal the Homeless Man from the news stand. He screams at them wildly,

Rorschach is finally beaten, surrounded by cops, as Moloch's house blazes in the background.

Dan is at the front door, fixing the lock Rorschach busted twice, when Laurie comes down the stairs, yawning.

Laurie smiles at him. Is Dan crazy or does he sense a spark? She touches his shoulder as she turns into the living room, then turns on the TV:

Both Dan and Laurie stop what they're doing, eyes fixed on the TV: They see Rorschach, unmasked, IN SHACKLES.

CUT TO: A clip of the EDITOR being interviewed. We see Seymour, who we met at the news stand, in the background.

Laurie shuts off the TV, not wanting to hear the war talk.

CONTINUED: ( 2)

Laurie laughs.

Rorschach walks, led by TWO CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. From the cells, PRISONERS shout insults, death threats. Rorschach stares ahead. Silent. Calm.

The PRISON PSYCHIATRIST, Black, amiable, a little overweight, sits across the table from Rorschach sans mask: Cold and frightening. The Psychiatrist reads his FILE.

The Psychiatrist sits back, considering Rorschach carefully.

He holds up a RORSCHACH BLOT-CARD.

FLASH OF: A DEAD DOG. Bloody, horrible.

FLASHES OF: Rorschach, as a LITTLE BOY, watching his MOTHER, HALF NAKED, EMBRACE A HAN AS HE HANDS HER SOME HONEY. When she catches Rorschach interrupting, she SMACKS him in the face. Shuts the door on him.

The Psychiatrist eyes him, dubious. Holds up another card.

FLASHES OF: Rorschach as a little.boy looking up at TWO OLDER Bors, teasing him. Calling him "son of a whore." Rorschach just wants to be left alone when one of the Boys SPITS in his face. Suddenly, Rorschach's face changes. He attacks the Boy like a wild animal--biting, clawing • •

The Psychiatrist sighs, puts the cards down.

CONTINUED: (2)

Rorschach walks through intermittent STREETLIGHTS. In his GLOVE, he holds a PHOTO of an angelic SIX YEAR OLD GIRL.

A creepy, deserted-looking house. Rorschach peers through a slatted fence at TWO GERMAN SHEPHERDS FIGHTING.

CRACK! The front door is KICKED OPEN, smashing the lock.

Rorschach moves between a line of headless MANNEQUINS. In one corner rests an old WOOD-BURNING STOVE. Rorschach peers inside, removes a BLACKENED scrap of UNDERWEAR. It's decorated with little hearts and bears.

Rorschach enters the kitchen. out the window, the DOGS are fighting. Rorschach opens a cupboard, where a line of KNIVES, CLEAVERS and a HACKSAW hang on hooks. Outside, the snarling dogs get LOUDER.

Slowly now, Rorschach's gaze moves from the knives ..• to the counter. He runs his gloved finger along RED STAINED, DEEP-CUT GROOVES in a THICK WOODEN CHOPPING BLOCK. Blood. His gaze continues out the window •••

'RORSCHACH ( V. 0 • ) And then I found her .

recognize as a small, HUMAN FEMUR--that of the little girl.

Rorschach clenches his hands in fury, his fists tremble ... and suddenly, he relaxes. Calms.

Rorschach slowly turns to the cupboard. He reaches for a large CLEAVER ...

The greasy, fat MURDERER walks past the now-silent fence.

The Man flicks a LIGHT SWITCH. Nothing. He draws a GUN.

He tries the light in here. Nothing again. He turns away as the BODY of a DEAD GERMAN SHEPHERD CRASHES THROUGH THE WINDOW!

He SCRAMBLES through the house, falling over mannequins. He FIRES madly into the dark. The SECOND DOG SMASHES INTO HIM ',._j FROM A SECOND WINDOW. His gun goes flying. He scrambles backward against the stove.

From behind, Rorschach CUFFS THE MAN'S WRIST TO THE STOVE. When the Man sees that "face," he loses his bladder. Rorschach just stares, mask-blots shifting •.•

Rorschach calmly points ••. to the body of the dog. (It is the same image Rorschach saw in the first blot-card.)

Rorschach RAISES THE CLEAVER, high over his head ...

Rorschach SWINGS the cleaver DOWN. Blood SPLATTERS his mask.

The Psychiatrist listens, paralyzed. Horrified.

The silence reels out ••.

The Psychiatrist rises shakily. He crosses to the GUARD.

The Mess hall is PACKED, hundreds of INMATES ~at dinner.

Rorschach enters. The place goes instantly, heavily SILENT. Suddenly someone yells:

A cruel RIPPLE OF LAUGHTER and the mass conversation begins again as Rorschach takes his place in the food line. A HUGE PRISONER moves in behind him. He whispers:

The Prisoner slides a SHIV from his sleeve ..•

Rorschach doesn't register this. He waits for the FRY-COOK behind the counter to turn away--

--then casually reaches across and lifts the DEEP-FRYER BASKET from its mount--

--the Prisoner JABS the shiv forward--Rorschach spins, GRIPPING the man's wrist and FLINGING the BOILING GREASE INTO THE MAN'S FACE. The man SHRIEKS like a FIRE WHISTLE and CRASHES TO THE GROUND. The Guards DESCEND on Rorschach.

Rorschach is calm as he's dragged away. As the injured man's screams fall away to weak, bubbling hitches, the room once again goes silent. Rorschach eyes the fearful, hateful eyes of.the room, marking each one. And in the silence he speaks, his icy voice carrying easily.

Rorschach is placidly dragged off INTO DARKNESS

CLOSE ON: THE NITE-OWL UNIFORM, the mask staring-its blank, empty stare. Laurie stares back, alone down here, fascinated with the costume, the gadgets, the whole place. She wanders to the OWL-SHIP, whose tarp has been pulled back. She runs ·-"~ her finger through the DUST caked on the windshield.

Inside the ship, Laurie pulls opeh a HATCH filled with ALTERNATE COSTUMES; designed for underwater work, cold conditions, heavy armor, a fireproof suit. She puts a cigarette in her mouth.

She hits a BUTTON--the lights inside go DIM. Creepy. She hits the button again to turn the lights back on but nothing happens •.•

Dan returns home with some take-out food .•. when he hears Laurie SCREAM downstairs.

Dan BOLTS for the basement door, thoughts of the mask-killer on his mind--

Dan descends the stairs and sees FIRE.

Dan grabs a FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Dan SPRAYS the fire. Laurie stumbles from the smoke, out of the Owl-Ship. Dan's got the fire under control now.

Dan goes to a BANK OF SWITCHES on the wall. Flicking them, } the OWl-Charnber LIGHTS UP. Hidden FANS dissipate the smoke. \

f ,....,..,_,._-,-m"T","TTT~'T'"'\ \

, __, -·~-· ,- ... ··,-·. -,_.._;"~.: •· :,:'~·..:.:-~-:•. --:--'-::i-i.

He says as he climbs the stairs.

The TV is on in the background, playing a PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT about nuclear shelters and air raid sirens. As Dan cleans up, Laurie watches him, like she's seeing him for the first time.

Laurie takes off his glasses ..• and KISSES him. It's what Dan's been wanting all this time ••. The kissing becomes more passionate, clothes start coming off. Laurie pulls Dan down on the couch--they're about to make love, but ••.

He can't get it up.

Dan lingers for a moment, hoping ... but nothing.

She hugs him tight, warm. It should make Dan feel better, but the sympathy makes him feel more pathetic instead.

Rorschach sits in his cell, staring impassively at the wall. The GUARD on duty hears footsteps .. He looks up, sees who it is, then turns his back ~nd suspiciously walks away

Rorschach turns to see TWO THUGS standing side by side, one muscle bound, the other very fat, staring at him through the bars. PAN DOWN: To reveal a MIDGET between them--the supervillain known as BIG FIGURE--his silver hair combed neatly back, a big CIGAR perched in his tiny mouth.

I r,f"'li,.'TmT'l..'TT'T"C'IT"\ \

Chuckling, Big Figure walks off down the long, shadowed corridor. Rorschach continues staring straight ahead.

CLOSE ON: Dan, naked, on his knees in the center of an INFINITE FIELD OF BLACKNESS. No corners, no exits. In the DISTANCE, he sees a FEMALE FORM. Desperate, he runs to her.

It's Laurie, waiting for him IN COSTUME. They kiss. She tears at him passionately. His SKIN suddenly TEARS AWAY like wrapping paper. Beneath the false skin, Dan wears his NITE- OWL COSTUME. Confident, he touches her face. She smiles with palpable heat. They kiss.

In the background, a NUCLEAR BLAST ERUPTS. Still kissing, the BLAST BLOWS THEM INTO TWO EMBRACING SKELETONS.

Dan wakes with a jolt, sweat beaded on his forehead .•.

The DOOR opens. Laurie stands in the SHAFT OF LIGHT.

Descending the stairs, she finds Dan before his costume, naxed. He fiddles with an OWL-WING THROWING WEAPON.

He FLINGS the owl wing crescent, whizzing into the dark.

(

She jogs upstairs. Dan turns to the empty, waiting suit.

PAN UP: DAN'S COSTUMED BODY. TheNite owl suit is fantastic, intricate, but above the belly .• it just barely fits, Dan managing to CLICK it closed.

Dan turns as Laurie appears at the door, decked in her BLACK SPANDEX. SILK SPECTRE, looking every bit as good as seventeen-

Dan turns and sees his reflection in the owl-Ship's window.

Laurie holds on as the OWl-Ship's ENGINES ROAR to life. The ship RISES INTO THE AIR and slips easily into the TUNNEL. Laurie watches the LIGHTS of the tunnel whiz by. At the end, two big STEEL DOORS open, allowing a passage UP.

THICK FOG POURS FROM LOWER-DECK JETS as the ship RISES into an ABANDONED WAREHOUSE, whose steel roof ROLLS BACK.

Laurie touches the window, the SPARKLING CITY laid out below.

Dan BANKS, wheeling the ship toward the VEIDT BUILDING.

Heading straight for the building, Dan JIGS at the last moment, flying the ship THROUGH THE V-SHAPED WATERFALL in the skyscraper's center. The water washes clean the years of dust. The Owl-Ship emerges, sparkling like new.

Below, a TENEMENT BUILDING is IN FLAMES. Dan's jaw sets. He wheels the ship around and down. As they zoom closer, they can see people SCREAMING from the windows. ·

She says as she grabs the CLOAK from Dan's fireproof owl suit and a FIRE EXTINGUISHER. Dan realizes what she intends to do.

He hits a button OPENING the lower hatch as Laurie WRAPS herself in the fireproof cloak--

--Laurie DROPS down from the owl-Ship like a cannonball--

--and CRASHES through the roof, landing on her feet as the cloak falls to the floor.

FLAMES are everywhere. Laurie puts out the nearby ones with the extinguisher. She sees a bunch of RESIDENTS trying to find their way through the SMOKE.

The residents forget their fear of fire for a moment as they soak in the spectacle of this sexy costumed lady. She snaps them out of it by tossing them the cloak.

LAURIE {CONT'D) Try to cover yourselves with this and follow me.

They follow Laurie down the hall to a BARRED WINDOW. She breaks through the window, then pulls a RETRACTABLE CORD from her BELT and attaches it to the BARS. She steps back several feet • . •

The residents watch as Laurie quickly moves forward, toward the bars as the cord RETRACTS, building her momenturn--

--giving Laurie enough power to KICK the bars off the window.

Laurie climbs through the window when the owl-Ship p~lls to a hover by the fire escape. The cabin doors open and a RAMP EXTENDS.

Laurie looks inside the window and finds even more residents staring at her and the OWl-Ship in wonder.

ATOP THE SHIP: Dan latches the steering column into its roof socket. He stands; Takes a deep, chest-expanding breath.

, ,... ,..., ............ .,.. ............ ,....~ \

•••••••-- •,.. s-•• C.

Who has he been kidding? This is who he is. Flicking a switch, OLD JAZZ plays pleasantly.

Below, the residents file on board, in a daze at their surroundings. Laurie grins at the music.

FIRE rising behind, Dan wings the ship STRAIGHT INTO FRAME.

EXT, STREET - NIGHT

The Owl-Ship RISES, leaving a grateful CROWD behind. In the background FIRE TRUCKS are just arriving. A FIREFIGHTER looks up in time to see the Owl-Ship disappear into the clouds.

Dan skims the clouds like a man waking from a dream.

He puts a hand on her shoulder. His eyes locked onto hers. He knows what he wants and this time he's not afraid of it .•

He kisses her. Hard. Running her hands up his cheeks, they slide each other's masks off. Their mouths melt together.

Soft music plays. Dan and Laurie lie in a heap of discarded costumes.

Laurie swats him on the chest--that's not what she meant. Dan grins, having fun with her.

I ,..,,-.,-,.Tn,"T"-..,..,...,......,.....,'

They kiss.

Dan sits up, serious. Very serious.

Long beat. The ship hovers, silent in the clouds.

The Prisoner Rorschach burned lies in bed, his face completely bandaged, hooked to an IV when he FLATLINES.

Down the dark corridors, a ROAR is building. ALARMS ring. Big Figure and his two Thugs appear at the door.

The Fat Thug wheels an ELECTRICAL WELDER to the door. Rorschach sits, idly TEARING his PRISON SHIRT into STRIPS.

F~T THUG Hey Boss, y'notice? None of that "small world, tall order" crap, cuz he knows once we slice open this lock, he's next on the block.

The Fat Thug reddens. He DIVES forward, HANDS SWIPING for Rorschach.

Rorschach SPINS, WRAPPING A SHIRT-STRIP AROUND HIS WRISTS, trapping the Fat Thug's hands inside the cell.

Rorschach SNAPS Fat Thug's pinky fingers. Fat Thug SHRIEKS. Rorschach roughly binds the fingers around the bars.

Dumb Thug tries to reach the welder around Fat Thug's body.

Big Figure nods to the Dumb Thug, who then grabs Fat Thug's neck.

Dumb Thug SNAPS Fat Thug's neck. He then CUTS OFF Fat Thug's hands with the welder, pushes the corpse out of the way to reach the lock. Big Figure grins at Rorschach.

Dan and Laurie are back in costume.

He says as Laurie's about to light a cigarette. She changes her mind. Looks at the PACK in her hand, then CRUMPLES it and TOSSES it across the floor.

OUTSIDE THE WINDOW: The OWl-Ship approaches a ROOFTOP with a HELIPAD. On the helipad is a HELICOPTER with the Veidt Enterprises LOGO.

Dan lands the OWl-Ship on the roof.

Surprisingly, Adrian is awake, packing some of his things, hustling about his grand mansion as Dan and Laurie trail.

A WALL SIZED MIRROR turns into a TV--CNN:

We see footage of the destruction.

We see footage of the western s.ide of the Berlin Wall where a YOUTH puts the finishing touches on a GRAFFITI MURAL of Dr. Manhattan, as if pleading for help.

Dan breaks away from the terrible news, follows Adrian.

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

Adrian hits the TV remote and an image of the "Doomsday Clock" appears.

Adrian pulls on a thick WINTER COAT and heads upstairs.

Adrian walks briskly to his idling COPTER, propellers loudly cutting through the air. Dan gives one last effort, shouting.

It takes Dan a moment to realize Adrian is serious. By then, Adrian's halfway into the helicopter.

Dan watches the helicopter fly off.

The lights are dim in the main cabin as President Nixon stares at the large TV screen which shows the "Doomsday Clock" at one minute til Midnight. President Nixon looks away from the screen and at the MILITARY AIDE who sits stoically across from him with the nuclear "football" briefcase HANDCUFFED td his wrist.

Dumb Thug WELDS, the lock GLOWS RED. Nearly through. Rorschach backs away as Big Figure tremble·s in excitement.

The lock MELTS AWAY. Rorschach climbs onto his bun~ as Dumb Thug enters, JABBING the electric welder at him menacingly.

Rorschach drives his HEEL into the porcelain TOILET BOWL, SHATTERING IT. WATER SPILLS across the floor. Rorschach KICKS Dumb Thug in the stomach; Dumb Thug buckles, then SLIPS in the water--Dumb Thug falls, welder still in hand as he hits the water •

Dumb Thug's hand FUSES to the welder as ELECTRICITY SURGES THROUGH HIM. He collapses, smoking. Dead.

Big Figure looks very small and alone now

Panic stricken, Big Figure moves, or rather, runs. Rorschach calmly follows him out of the cell.

The Owl-Ship tears through the sky, the prison ahead on the horizon. Dan has his game face on; Laurie's still unsure.

They look at each other--Dan knows who she's doing it for. The owl-Ship is upon the prison now

They see a RIOT below~-Inmates spilling out into the yard, overwhelming the Correctional Officers on the ground; TOWER GUARDS take shots at some of the Inmates; Broken glass, broken furniture parts are scattered through the yard; SMOKE emits from inside the prison.

They descend toward the hell of TEAR-GAS, FIRE and violence. The Tower Guards, stunned at the sight of the OWl-Ship, begin SHOOTING at it. The bullets bounce right off.

The ship emits a PIERCING SHRIEK. WINDOWS SHATTER. The Inmates and Guards fall to the ground in sonic agony.

The Owl-Ship stops to a hover position. The LOWER HATCH OPENS and a LADDER extends .

As Laurie descends the ladder, Dan simply, joyously LEAPS OUT, his wings SNAP WIDE to GLIDE him through the air.

Fires burn in the cells. Shotguns and screams echo in the emergency lighting. Archie's owl-Shriek is dulled here--it's quiet. Tense.

Laurie and Dan turn the corner, searching, when they see THREE INMATES beating a GUARD to death. The Inmates look up-- two of them CHARGE toward Dan;

I ,... ,....._,.,-n "T'"-.,"fT"fT:'fT'\ \

Dan THROWS what looks like a golf ball at them--the ball EXPLODES, a stun grenade, knocking the Inmates out.

The third Inmate pulls the dead Guard's gun, Laurie is quickly upon him, grabbing the barrel of the gun, disarming him, and then PISTOL WHIPPING him in one motion. The Inmate hits the floor. Laurie slips the pistol into her waistband. Dan and Laurie continue their search.

They come upon Rorschach's cell. Dan sees the SMOKING CORPSE of Dumb Thug. Sees the CUT OFF HANDS of Fat Thug, HANGING from the bars.

Big Figure runs, turns a corner, ducking into the BATHROOM. Rorschach sees this and walks serenely after him ... when Dan and Laurie enter the far hall.

He disappears into the dark bathroom. Laurie watches after him in stunned disbelief.

After a moment, and some noises inside, Rorschach exits the bathroom, wiping his hands.

He walks off.

---~--. ~--• ~•- . --~~·-•---~••ss.•.~• ..

Behind them, BLOODY WATER FLOODS from the bathroom door ...

The trio crosses the roof as Dan calls Archie by REMOTE.

DAN \.,..;;,i Hey! Survive now! Argue later! I had to turn the screechers off, so we'll be drawing fire.

The Owl-Ship rises to the roof. They all jump in. Rorschach shuts the hatch as Prisoners pour out onto the rooftop, MOBBING the ship.

Dan flips the cover off a SWITCH, marked by a LIGHTNING BOLT--

--and the HULL ELECTRIFIES, BLOWING the RIOTERS OFF ITS HULL with sudden, shocking force.

Under HEAVY FIRE the OWl-Ship ZOOMS OFF, leaving the chaos behind.

Dan weaves and whips the ship into the sky, above the clouds. Satisfied that they've escaped, Dan allows himself a grin. He looks at Laurie, who grins back.

Dan doesn't answer, staring at Laurie, his love ...

Dan looks up, through the windshield, and sees--

--Dr. Manhattan WALKING ACROSS THE CLOUDS--STRAIGHT FOR THE SHIP.

The ship COLLIDES with Dr. Manhattan, who PASSES THROUGH into the CABIN with a SHOWER of BLUE PARTICLES--

Laurie looks at Dan then at Dr. Manhattan. Comprehending •.

I i'nN'l'Tl\TTll<'n'

CONTINUED: (2)

Laurie and Dr. Manhattan BURST INTO PARTICLES--they're gone. Dan stares at the space where Laurie just was.

Dan notices TWO BLIPS on the RADAR.

TWO NYPD HELICOPTERS appear behind the OWl-Ship

INSIDE THE OWL-SHIP: Dan takes the controls.

He hits the jets, heading for the New York SKYLINE.

A red vista. Dr. Manhattan and Laurie appear atop a rise.

Laurie GRIPS her throat and TUMBLES down the hill. She rolls into Jon, waiting for her ~t the bottom. She CLAWS at him.

He TOUCHES her mouth, forming a small ATMOSPHERE around her. She HEAVES in air, retching and choking at the same time.

Laurie stands up before Jon's huge GLASS PALACE.

97,

EXT, NEW YORK CITY AIRSPACE - NIGHT

The Owl-Ship WEAVES around the buildings, trying to shake the copters , •. but the pilots are good, staying on its tail.

The Owl-Ship shoots out of the city over the water ... Dan LOOPS Archie around--

--and heads straight for a SUBWAY TUNNEL •..

• just clearing it. The owl-Ship SKIMS the sides of the tunnel, SPARKS flying--

--when a SUBWAY appears. They're heading straight for it.

They head straight for the subway--

--when the tunnel opens up--

--Dan SWERVES to the adjacent track just in time.

The Owl-Ship emerges from the subway tunnel .•• when one of the NYPD copters cuts it off.

Dan accelerates, weaving Archie around the skyscrapers, the Empire State Building .•. but the copter's still there.

Dan cuts around the UNITED NATIONS BUILDING. The copter follows the owl-Ship around to the East River

••. but the Owl-Ship is nowhere to be found The copter hovers there. Baffled.

The Owl-Ship rests at the bottom of the river, hidden ...

A group of GANG MEMBERS (with the black and yellow bandanas who confronted Dan on the subway earlier in the film) walk down the block when another Gang Member catches up, running.

Hollis sits up in bed, TV on: CNN; Grainy, shaky CLIPS of the Owl-Ship. He's on the phone, beaming.

CUT TO: Sally Jupiter on the other end in California, watching the same footage.

There's a KNOCK at Hollis's door.

, ,...,,...._ .. .,.~ ........ .,.T"f~T"', \

Hollis hangs up, heads to the door, excited. He opens the door--

--and the Gang Members PILE INTO HIM. The picture SLOWS DOWN. Hollis turns, mouth bleeding. HOLLIS' POV IS SEPIA TONED. The gang appears as a COLLECTION of VILLAINS in COSTUMES.

SLOW, SEPIA: A young Hollis is in his old COSTUME. The VOICES come from the present, while Hollis is lost in the past.

In his SLO-MO world, Hollis PASTES a Villain in the mouth--in reality, he gets nailed. This intercutting continues until the Gang Leader picks up the GOLD STATUE of Hollis in costume whose base reads: IN GRATITUDE •

Hollis, old again, looks up. The SHADOW of the statue DESCENDS HARD TOWARD HIS FACE--GO BLACK.

The Owl-Ship moves slowly through the water.

Dan says nothing. Rorschach puts on his costume.

Dan sits at the COMPUTER.

Dan turns away, shaking. He leans against the console.

Dan turns. Rorschach holds out an open hand.

Touched, •Dan shakes his hand. An awkward, lovely moment.

Releasing his hand with some effort, Dan sits, invigorated.

The Owl-Ship BURSTS THROUGH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.

Jon leads Laurie into his Glass Palace.

Contemplating this, he steps to the balcony's edge.

DR. MANHATTAN {CONT'D) Now that link is shattered. Don't you see the futility of asking me to save a world that I no longer have any stake in?

The giant Glass Palace begins to RUMBLE.

The clockwork Glass Palace RISES HIGH INTO THE AIR . • .

The Owl-Ship approaches the large warehouse building that is Pyramid Industries. The ship lands in the alley. nearby.

Dan and Rorschach exit the ship. Shady neighborhood. Rorschach goes to the door which is AJAR.

Dan and Rorschach slowly make their way down, peering into ROOMS. The place looks abandoned--scattered papers, dusty file cabinets, leftover computer components ••.

They enter the large, dark industrial section of the building. They pass huge PROCESSING.VATS, CONVEYOR BELTS.

Rorschach looks out the window and notices a BAR across the street.

A seedy, smoky bar. Rorschach and Dan enter and are met with fearful eyes. The Bartender starts sweating noticeably.

Sitting at a nearby table are the Gang Members who killed Hollis Mason. They squirm at the sight of Dan, realizing their mistake •••

The crowd is silent. Then slowly, they uniformly turn toward a LARGE MAN at the bar.

Rorschach grabs his hand and SQUEEZES HARD, CRUSHING the glass in the Man's hand. The Man cries out as glass CUTS him.

( ('011T'T'T1'HTl<'T'\ I

Rorschach squeezes the Man's hand harder--

Dan notices the Gang Members squirming. His criminal instincts returned, he knows when someone's hiding something.

The Gang Leader shits his pants as Dan steps toward him.

BACK TO Rorschach:

I r"l ,-.,l\1'rT'I Tl\1T"T"C'T'\ \

CONTINUED: (2)

Suddenly someone SCREAMS. Rorschach turns--

--and sees Dan gripping the bloody Gang Leader by the THROAT, CHOKING him as the other Gang Members flee the bar.

Dan begins to break up. Rorschach quietly pulls him away.

Rorschach herds Dan outside.

The owl-Ship hovers outside the window as Dan sits at the computer, typing, still shaken up over Hollis. Rorschach peruses Adrian's office.out of investigative habit.

Rorschach peruses a FILE labeled "Dr. Manhattan Clean Energy Project."

Finished with the file, Rorschach drops it by the computer. Dan notices something inside--Dr. Manhattan's PSYCHE PROFILE.

/ r,r"\ ... Tm'T,TTTT""I,...._,

Dan skims the file, then stops to think. As if hit with an epiphany. He opens his mouth like he can't believe what he's going to say.

Dan glances around the office. Something's not right.

CONTINUED: (2)

The endless white blanket that is Antarctica is interrupted by a SPLASH OF COLOR in the distance. As we approach, we see that the color is a BIO-DOME--a tropical RAINFOREST inside. This is part of KARNAK: Adrian Veidt's Arctic Fortress.

Adrian stands at the entrance of the Bio-Dome, amidst the exotic foliage, where a GROUP of SCIENTISTS and ENGINEERS are gathered. They all hold CHAMPAGNE FLUTES--Adrian raises his glass for a toast when the HEAD SCIENTIST interrupts. (We saw him in the video conference with Dr. Manhattan earlier.)

The group applauds. Then they sip their champagne. All except for Adrian •

, ,...,,,....,,..,.m.....-, ...... .,.,.... .... '

FLASH(BACK) OF: Six year-old Adrian in the PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE with his PARENTS, sitting before the PRINCIPAL . ..

FLASH(BACK) OF: A college age Adrian at the Capitoline MUSEUM in Rome, admiring a BUST of Alexander.

FLASHES{BACK) OF: College age Adrian following Alexander's path: In a crowded MARKETPLACE in ISTANBUL; Standing before the SPHINX in EGYPT; Standing before a DESERT OASIS in the LUT DESERT, naked, contemplative; Hiking the HIMALAYAS at the edge of Alexander's empire.

CONTINUED: ( 2)

Adrian turns to his audience. They are silent, staring at him with dead eyes ... because they are dead, peacefully poisoned by the champagne. Their bodies start dropping to the ground ... Adrian regards them all, then heads to the CONTROL PANEL. He enters a code and the bio-dome OPENS, letting the blizzard in. The snow quickly COVERS all the tropical foliage and the bodies as Adrian leaves

The Owl-Ship slows to a hover beside an OLDER BUILDING, next to an AIR RAID SIREN ..•

Rorschach descends the ladder, goes to the door of the building. He places his JOURNAL in an ENVELOPE.

He drops the envelope into the MAIL SLOT, climbs back up the ladder.

·~} ;:,y

Rorschach disappears into the dark hatch. The Owl-Ship blasts ,,z, off •.. disappearing just as Seymour arrives. Seymour picks up the mail and walks inside.

The Editor walks in as Seymour goes through the mail.

Seymour tosses Rorschach's journal into a PILE OF LETTERS.

Laurie's hair blows in the cold wind. She lowers her head. Jon serves her some WATER.

DR • MANHATTAN I can't be sure. I'm still experiencing some temporal interference preventing any clear vision of what lies ahead.

Above, TWO MOONS cross overhead. One is HUGE, CRIMSON RED, the smaller is a delicate SHELL PINK. Spectacular.

The structure descends. Laurie stomps down the stairs.

( r'f"\l\'Tl'TlT.,_TTT"C'IT"\ \

CONTINUED: (2)

Jon is waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.

She stands there, arms folded, waiting. Then, just like earlier in the lab, Jon touches her head--

Same flashback as before, in Laurie's childhood home. We're in Laurie's POV, as a little girl. There's arguing downstairs. Laurie goes down to investigate.

She comes upon the kitchen door, ajar. She can see her PARENTS inside, arguing • ••

And then they notice Laurie looking at them.

Tears run down little Laurie's face. Her parents are horrified--

--Laurie breaks away from Jon and drops down to her knees, tears flowing.

Laurie grabs a GLASS WATER BOTTLE off a tray and WHIPS it at the palace--

--and the huge glass construction CRUMBLES. Jon protects them with a FORCE FIELD as debris collapses around them. Laurie sobs in the echoing SILENCE.

Jon's eyes SHUT. He seems to feel •.. empathy. A TEAR slips down his cheek. Laurie's realization is a revelation for Jon.

They stand there in silence. Connected for the first time in years.

FROM ABOVE: We see the full CRATER--the ARGYRE PLANITIA. Round, with two, ~ye-like BOULDERS set side by side, a RIDGE of land curling below .•. like a happy-face.

The Owl-Ship sails through a TOWERING CLOUD BANK. The COAST approaches as SNOW starts to fall.

Dan stares ahead, stoic. Thinking about Hollis, Laurie and Adrian. He glances at a MONITOR, tracking heat signatures. There's a LARGE SIGNAL ahead.

Rorschach says nothing •.. when a halting WHINE sputters from the engines. A HUGE CLIFF APPEARS before them.

Dan pulls the stick back. The ship SHUDDERS UPWARD.

The ship, tiny before the massive ice-wall, climbs slowly. It's going to be close. The wall is 100 yards away now, the top-most edge barely in view. 50 yards. 20 ••• and then silence--

The ship BARELY CLEARS THE CLIFF. BOUNCING hard, it SKIPS across the snow like a stone, finally CRASHING INTO A DRIFT.

Dan opens the hatch. Shrieking WIND blows the snow in. Dan pulls on a white, FUR-LINED SNOW-OWL costume. He connects a LONG TUBE from one end of the ship and secures it OVER the ENGINE PANEL at the other end.

(CONTINUED\

Rorschach pulls up his trench-collar against the bitter wind. Dan pulls two stand-up HOVER-SCOOTERS from an OUTSIDE HATCH. They exchange a look and ride the scooters off into the snow.

Adrian, dressed in his Ozymandias costume, sits alone in the massive hall, opposite a wall of giant TV SCREENS which show various television NEWS CHANNELS showing IMAGES OF WAR all over the world. Amongst the collage of video is a prominent image of the "Doomsday Clock," one minute til Midnight.

Adrian sighs and hits the remote--the screens become ONE IMAGE--ALEXANDER THE GREAT slicing the Gordian Knot.

By Adrian's feet is an exotic LYNX. Its unnatural beauty almost hides a feral danger in its eyes. Adrian pets the beast.

Suddenly the Lynx stands, GROWLS.

He hits the remote--the TV screens switch to MULTIPLE VIEWS OF Dan and Rorschach, heading toward Karnak.

Flying on the scooter, Dan wipes frost and fog from his goggles. He then looks up and--

--sees KARNAK, a GARGANTUAN GLASS PYRAMID in the snow.

Adrian watches Dan and Rorschach reach the door on the monitors.

On the monitors, Dan takes a LASER TORCH to the door.

Having burnt through the control panel, Dan pushes the huge door open. They enter the grand palace, dwarfed by its Macedonian massiveness.

Dan and Rorschach pass the wall of TV screens into--

--the dining hall, where Adrian eats alone, at a long table. Though they're only a few yards away, Adrian doesn't appear to see them, hidden by some PILLARS.

Dan and Rorschach signal to each other, quiet. Adrian eats--

--and Rorschach RUSHES him from behind--

--Adrian moves at the last second, GRABS Rorschach's arm, then spins and BACKHAND FISTS him, sending him flying back.

118,

Dan draws his PEN-LASER,

Adrian picks up a GOLDEN SERVING TRAY off the table as Dan FIRES. Adrian DEFLECTS the laser with the tray--

--then DISCUS-SLINGS the tray into Dan's NOSE. Blood SPRAYS; Dan drops to his knees. Adrian turns his back on them, calm.

As Adrian speaks, Rorschach sneaks up behind him with a FORK. He tries to stab Adrian in the back, but Adrian effortlessly dodges the blow, GRABS Rorschach's mask, TWISTS it, then KNEES him in the gut. Rorschach drops to the floor.

Adrian starts walking out of the hall. Dan helps Rorschach up and they follow.

FLASHBACK TO: The opening scene, when an Intruder kicks the Comedian's door in. Only now we see the Intruder is Adrian, and we see the events in Adrian's point of view.

CONTINUED: (2)

We see Adrian throw the Comedian through the window

As they enter the control hall, Rorschachmoves to.attack Adrian again when he and Dan hear a growl the Lynx steps in between, protecting its master.

FLASHES(BACK) OF: A younger Adrian in the CIRCULATION CONTROL ROOM of Pyramid Industries. He ATTACHES a CANNISTER OF TOXIC GAS in one of the VENTILATION SYSTEMS. We then see FLASHES of where the vents lead to--Wally Weaver and Janey Slater work in a LAB; Moloch is on the phone in his OFFICE.

Adrian smiles enigmatically. FLASHBACK TO: Roy Chess' assassination attempt, but now we see it from Adrian's point of view. We see him secretly shove a CYANIDE CAPSULE in Chess' mouth.

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

A BEAM of BLUE ENERGY SHOOTS INTO THE SKY from Karnak. The energy infects the CLOUDS, CHARGED with CRASHING, ERRATIC BLUE LIGHTNING SPREADING out across the globe .••

The News Vendor and the Black Teen are talking when the sky turns BRIGHT BLUE--

President Nixon and his Cabinet look out the windows, up at the electric blue clouds far in the distance

We're with RUSSIAN TANKS and SOLDIERS who stop fighting the AFGHANI SOLDIERS to look up at the same sight--

We're with a US Stealth Bomber PILOT flying through those clouds, approaching MOSCOW--

Realization is dawning on the faces of the New Yorkers

Suddenly the SOUND of a rising, HOWLING WIND . .. and the LIGHTNING STRIKES begin, CRASHING TO EARTH with savage, blistering force. Their expended blue energy SPREADS like LIQUID FIRE, FLOODING THROUGH THE STREETS.

People SCREAM and RUN. As the LIGHT OVERTAKES the unlucky ones, they are instantly BLOWN TO ASH--

WORLD MONTAGE: --as is the News Vendor and Black Teen; the Russian and Afghani Soldiers; the Stealth Bomber and Moscow; Paris; the Great Wall of China. Destroyed.

The smoke-filled street is silent. Then GLOWING PARTICLES COALESCE, slamming together to form Jon and Laurie, but Jon's teleportation falters, shorting out. They FALL from the air. Laurie drops roughly to her knees.

Jon looks around the street. Even he is awe-struck.

,,....,-...,_'TrT'l"T"l.'TT'T~T"\\

Laurie looks up and screams. THOUSANDS OF BLACK SILHOUETTES are IMPRINTED on the STREET and the WALLS. Everywhere. The landscape is SCORCHED--there is rubble and destruction and some buildings have simply disintegrated.

Dr. Manhattan looks up into the sky, studying it.

PULL OUT FROM: The televisions--NEWS REPORTS from all over the world, documenting the tragic destruction "caused by Dr. Manhattan's attack on the world." Dan turns away shaken. Rorschach boils. Adrian beams.

r rnwrTNTrnn,

Suddenly there's a LOUD BEEPING in the hall. The Lynx growls. Adrian switches the monitors to the security cameras which show Jon and Laurie materialize in the snow.

Laurie vomits in the snow.

Jon walks toward the building, entranced. Distracted.

In a burst, he's gone.

Jon materializes in the hall. Adrian sprints like lightening, out of the room, followed by the Lynx.

Dr. Manhattan walks calmly after Adrian.

He follows Adrian into the next room.

Dr. Manhattan enters the MAZE of advanced technology.

He spots the Lynx in a METAL CORRIDOR.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALLS is Adrian, waiting by a CONTROL PANEL. He takes one last look at his Lynx.

Dr. Manhattan enters the corridor with the Lynx; Adrian flicks a SWITCH. The Lynx's FUR STANDS ON END as ENERGY CRACKLES BETWEEN THE METAL WALLS. The Lynx HOWLS.

LIGHT BLASTS through him and the Lynx--both are OBLITERATED.

Adrian peers around the corner, winded by his success.

( ,....r-\11.TmT"I.TTTT""I,..._'

Adrian turns. Laurie aims the prison guard's pistol at him.

Adrian cries out, LEAPS at her as she FIRES--

--and hits Adrian. He COLLAPSES. Dan and Rorschach find them as Laurie approaches Adrian's body

Adrian's hand falls from his chest to the floor, blood trickling, as his PALM OPENS--

--holding a BULLET inside.

Adrian opens his eyes and KICKS her in the stomach, sending her flying back. Laurie drops the gun; Adrian picks it up.

Adrian exits as Dan helps the winded Laurie to her feet. Together, Rorschach, Dan and Laurie follow him back to:

Adrian approaches his wall of TV screens when--

Jon, now 100 FEET TALL, SMASHES THROUGH T&E WALL. Adrian crawls desperately away, grasping for his remote on the floor. As Jon approaches he SHRINKS to six feet.

Out of tricks, out of traps, Adrian lifts the remote.

Adrian goes back to his wall of screens, watching the news reports. We hear SOUND BITES and IMAGES: "Dr. Manhattan has attacked the world, including the United States." '1Soviets withdraw from Afghanistan," "US forces head back home." "Countries are calling for an emergency session of the U.N. to determine how to deal with the threat of Dr. Manhattan." "President Nixon has called for an immediate truce."

TEARS stand in Adrian's eyes. He raises his fists in triumph.

Dr. Manhattan examines the many screens, taking it all in.

/CONTTNURD\

CONTINUED: (2)

Rorschach walks toward the exit.

Adrian and Dr. Manhattan's eyes meet--an unspoken communication. Seeing this, Dan runs after Rorscha9h.

Across the hall, Dr. Manhattan materializes between Rorschach and the exit.

Rorschach pauses. Dan is halfway there ... Rorschach removes his mask, tears stand in his eyes.

/ r"l ...... "-"HT'1T"-'TT'T'T':,T"\ \

CONTINUED: (3)

Dr. Manhattan WAVES HIS HAND and BLOWS RORSCHACH APART. Dan collapses to his knees, sobbing. Jon contemplates the BURN- MARK where Rorschach stood only seconds ago, then disappears--

--reappearing across the hall where Laurie is. She is also in tears, watching all the horrible footage on the TV screens.

He kisses her on the cheek--

And with that, he disappears. Forever.

Across the hall, Dan recovers from mourning Rorschach. He stands, gritting his teeth. Walks toward Adrian.

Adrian laughs.

CONTINUED: (4)

ADRIAN l I'm sorry but don't you see the irony in ' this? Your intentions betray your own objection to my plan. By attempting to kill me, emphasis on attempt, you're agreeing with me--the ends do justify the means.

Adrian readies himself. Laurie breaks away from the TV screens.

Dan FLIES at Adrian, fighting like a madman for his life. His fighting style has changed. Dan's newfound brutality is informed by everything he's learned from Rorschach. About justice. About life.

But Adrian is the best. He takes Dan's attacks apart with ease, delivering blows which would kill a man not quite so focused on his goal. In the end, he CATCHES Dan's final strike and TWISTS. Dan's arm SNAPS easily.

Laurie charges Adrian. With one hand, Adrian blocks her attack, grabs her by the hair and SLAMS her to floor, knocking her out.

Dan falls to his knees, bloody and beaten. Out of tricks, out of time, he searches his belt for something, anything, and finds one last OWL-WING. The WINGS SNAP OUT. Desperate, he FLICKS IT AT ADRIAN--

Who merely SNATCHES the owl-Wing out of the air. He laughs. Prepares to finish Dan off.

CONTINUED: (5)

Adrian sees that Dan has pulled one last item from his belt. Adrian STEPS on Dan's WRIST, bones crunching. Dan's HAND falls OPEN, revealing the OWL-SHIP REMOTE.

BEHIND ADRIAN: FLOODLIGHTS BLAZE, targeting Adrian as the OWL- SHIP CRASHES THROUGH THE WINDOW and into Adrian and Dan.

Silence, but for the tinkling of GLASS falling to the floor.

Dan tries to stand, but he falls, his left leg shattered. Most of Adrian has been CRUSHED under the ship. He coughs a fine blood spray. Adrian looks over to Dan, dying.

Adrian lays back, calm, and grins, accepting.

And Adrian dies. Laurie gets to her feet, then helps Dan get to his, pulling him toward the Owl-Ship.

The owl-Ship RISES into the sky, the Pyramid of Karnak BLAZING from it's tip like a Roman candle.

The disintegrated buildings are being rebuilt. The shock of the attack is wearing off, and though the streets may not be as crowded as they once were, a sense of normalcy is returning.

Sally Jupiter walks the sidewalk, looking for an address.

Sally mixes herself a tall drink at the bar. Sally calls out:

We finally see Laurie now--her hair dyed, appearance changed.

t

LAURIE (CONT'D) ·._ .. ,.Y Mom--I just want to get this out of the way ..• I know Eddie Blake, the Comedian--I know he was my father.

Sally freezes.

Sally downs her drink, immediately starts making another.

Laurie kisses her mother's teary cheek.

Sally jumps as a CLICK/WHIR SOUND comes from a BOOKCASE.

The bookcase SLIDES ASIDE and a blond DAN enters from the secret ELEVATOR. He is trim and confident, cheeks flushed with color. Buttoning up his shirt, he spots Sally.

Sally wipes her runny make-up, goes to the bathroom.

Dan and Laurie embrace, kiss.

Slow, Laurie turns to the window. Looks out at the New York skyline being rebuilt.

He puts his arm around her shoulder.

\

\ 134.

CLOSE ON: A YELLOW HAPPY FACE--suddenly SPLOTCHED with RED-- printed on A T-SHIRT now stained with ketchup.

WE PULL BACK: And find Seymour wears the shirt, eating a burger when the Editor bursts in.

Seymour turns to the PILE of submissions known as the crank file, where RORSCHACH'S JOURNAL sits on top. Seymour reaches--

--and picks up Rorschach's Journal •.. Just as he's about to open it, we cur TO BLACK.