Watchmen Page #10

MOLOCH:

So that's it? I'm clean?

RORSCHACH:

Clean? I searched your house. Found

illegal drugs.

MOLOCH:

Illegal--I don't use drugs.

Rorschach pulls a PILL BOTTLE from his coat.

RORSCHACH:

Laetril. Phony medication made from

apricot pits. Illegal.

MOLOCH:

oh c-come on. Look, please don't

confiscate that. I'm trying anything

. I have cancer.

RORSCHACH:

What kind of cancer?

MOLOCH:

The kind you don't get better from.

RORSCHACH:

Fine. You're off the hook, for now. If

you remember anything else, leave me a

note in the trash can opposite the Gunga

Diner at Fortieth and Seventh. Keep out

of trouble, Moloch.

36.

EXT. CITYSCAPE - NIGHT

CLOSE ON:
Rorschach blasting through the night air as the

city streams by. This close, he appears to be flying.

RORSCHACH (V.0.)

Rorschach's Journal, October 17th.

Thought about Moloch's story on my way to

the cemetery. Could all be lies. A scheme

for revenge planned during his years

behind bars.

CUT WIDE:
To reveal he is actually PERCHED ATOP AN ELEVATED

SUBWAY CAR. Just one way he gets around.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

But if it's true, then what? What could

have possibly scared the Comedian? What

building was he talking about? What was

it that he saw? So many questions.

EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT

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

proper respects.

RORSCHACH (V.0.)

Edward Blake--the Comedian. Born 1944,

buried in the rain. Murdered.

FLASH TO:
Blake, the night of his murder, turning as his door

is kicked in.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

Violent lives ending violently.

FLASH TO:
Adrian's display burning.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

Blake understood. Humans are violent in

nature. No matter how much you try to

dress it up, to disguise it.

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

photo of the new Watchmen.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

Blake saw the true face of human kind and

chose to become a parody of it, treated

it like a joke.

FLASHES OF:
Blake being beaten in his apartment.

(CONTINUED)

37.

CONTINUED:

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

I heard a joke once. Man goes to a

doctor, says he's depressed. Life seems

harsh and cruel.

Blake is KICKED in the stomach.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

Says he feels all alone in a threatening

world.

Blake stands alone in the blowing tear gas smoke.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

Doctor says, "the treatment is simple.

The great clown Pagliacci is in town

tonight. Go and see him. That should pick

you up."

Blake is lifted up by the Intruder's hands.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

The man bursts into tears.

A bloodied Blake laughs at the Intruder.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

"But doctor," he says.

ULTRA-SLOW, Blake crashes through his apartment window.

RORSCHACH (CONT'D)

"I am Pagliacci."

Blake FLIES TOWARD FRAME on his silent trip to the ground.

RORSCHACH (V.0.) (CONT'D)

Good joke. Everybody laugh.

Blake FALLS INTO FRAME--GO BLACK .

INT. ROCKEFELLER MILITARY BASE - BEDROOM - AFTERNOON

CLOSE ON:
Laurie, eyes closed with pleasure, as Dr.

Manhattan's GLOWING BLUE HANDS caress her face.

LAURIE:

Mmm. What time do you have to be at your

TV interview?

DR. MANHATTAN (O.S.)

Don't worry, we have plenty of time.

(CONTINUED)

38.

CONTINUED:

Eyes still closed, she does not see a THIRD BLUE HAND trace a

line down her cheek. She kisses it.

LAURIE:

Hey, your finger, it's like licking a

battery. It's all--

She opens her eyes. They widen in shock and horror as she

sees TWO DR. MANHATTANS in bed with her.

LAURIE (CONT'D)

Oh God! That's horrible! Stop it!

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 (CONT'D)

I'm sorry, I--You startled me, that's all

DR. MANHATTAN 1

I don't know what stimulates you anymore.

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

LAURIE:

Forget about it. I overreacted. It was

just strange to see--

Laurie can now see into the KITCHEN, where yet a THIRD DR.

MANHATTAN is working on an experiment. Her eyes blaze.

LAURIE (CONT'D)

How long have you been working in here?

DR. MANHATTAN 1

Laurie, try to understand--

LAURIE:

Understand!? You're working in here at

the same time we're in bed!?

DR. MANHATTAN 3

My work with Adrian is at an important

stage. It seemed unnecessary to--

LAURIE:

Shut up! Just SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Laurie WHIPS a full BEAKER at 3's chest. It PASSES THROUGH

HIM and SMASHES IN THE KITCHEN SINK. Laurie storms out.

(CONTINUED)

39.

CONTINUED:
(2)

DR. MANHATTAN 3

Laurie, please--If you think there's a

problem with my attitude, I'm prepared to

discuss it--

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.

DR. MANHATTAN 2

--but logically, not clouded with human

emotion.

LAURIE:

Human emotion? You were human once.

That's the problem, Jon. You've forgotten

that.

DR. MANHATTAN 2

Laurie, where are you--

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

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