Watchmen Page #11

INT. DAN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING

Dan heats up some leftover Chinese food in the microwave as

the TV plays in the B/G:

NEWS ANALYST (V.O.)

--no one's fired their weapons yet, but

no one's lowered them either. Maybe these

other countries aren't so afraid of Dr.

Manhattan, maybe they're calling the

President's bluff. I'm very curious to

see what Dr. Manhattan himself has to say

in his live interview which should be in

about an hour or so

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

Hard.

40.

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

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

DAN:

Who is it?

LAURIE (O.S.)

It's Laurie.

DAN:

Laurie?

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

DAN (CONT'D)

Sorry, I had a new lock installed, it's a

little sticky--

LAURIE:

I left Jon.

INT. DAN'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

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

DAN:

Did, uh, the Secret Service follow you

here?

LAURIE:

I lost them in the subways. I think.

DAN:

I'm really sorry, Laurie.

LAURIE:

Living with him . Dan, you don't know

what it's been like.

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

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

The way he looks at things, like he can't

remember what they are, like he doesn't

really care. This world, the real world

to him it's like walking through

mist, and all the people are just

shadows. Shadows in the fog.

Dr. Manhattan lowers his head. A SHADOW FALLS OVER HIM. He

looks up to see a THREE PIECE SUIT floating before him--

waiting for its wearer.

41.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Dan and Laurie walk the streets, getting some air.

LAURIE:

I hope I didn't ruin your night.

DAN:

Not at all. I was just going to see

Hollis for our weekly beer session.

You're more than welcome to join. In

fact, I insist

They pass the news stand from the opening scene. The Homeless

Man is arguing with the News Vendor:

NEWS VENDOR:

--I told you, this month's issue still

hasn't arrived yet! Why do you care about

that right wing rag so much? Cuz those

bastards don't give a damn about you,

pal! They--hold up, here it comes.

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.

EXT. STREET - SAME TIME

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

DAN:

Laurie, will you please stop apologizing?

I'm here for you anytime.

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

LAURIE:

I know. I just find it rude when people

show up at your door--

INT. TELEVISION STUDIO - NIGHT

The main waiting area. People go about their jobs. The

RECEPTIONIST hears a strange, electric CRACKLING

(CONTINUED)

42.

CONTINUED:

LAURIE (V.0.)

--completely out of the blue.

Suddenly, Dr. Manhattan appears in a burst of energy. The

receptionist SHRIEKS. The PRODUCER looks out his office.

PRODUCER:

Terrific. Dr. Manhattan arrives and no

one thinks to tell me?

RECEPTIONIST:

He, he just--

PRODUCER:

All geez. We don't have time for make-up.

That blue is too light for television.

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

DR. MANHATTAN

Is this dark enough?

PRODUCER:

Uh, yeah

EXT. ALLEY - SAME TIME

Dan and Laurie turn down an alley. We now see who's following

them--a group of YOUNG THUGS.

PRODUCER (V.0.)

that's dark enough.

INT. TELEVISION STUDIO - BACK STAGE - SAME TIME

A White House PRESS AGENT escorts Dr. Manhattan to the set.

PRESS AGENT:

Just another reminder that if the second

Geneva Convention comes up, our official

position is that talks will not resume

until the Chinese agree to exclude you

from the agenda. The President approved

this interview because he wanted to

strengthen morale at home and to gently

remind the rest of the world who holds

the cards. Please keep that in mind.

Dr. Manhattan stands off stage, waiting. The LIGHTS come up

and we're live with the glossy NEWS HOST.

(CONTINUED)

43.

CONTINUED:

NEWS HOST:

He's been called many things; Hero,

weapon, linchpin of our security--

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 BACK TO:

NEWS HOST (CONT'D)

His given name is Jonathan Osterman--Dr.

Jonathan Osterman--a renowned nuclear

physicist who through a terrible accident

became the man the world knows today as

Dr. Manhattan.

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

DR. MANHATTAN

Thank you.

NEWS HOST:

Thank you, Dr. Manhattan, and not simply

for appearing on this program. I believe

I speak for all of America when I thank

you for thwarting the terrorist plot at

the port of Long Beach over a week ago--

Furious applause from the audience, which Dr. Manhattan

regards curiously.

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