Watchmen Page #12

DR. MANHATTAN

It was my duty.

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--

--when another Thug nails him from behind with a BAT. Dan

drops to the ground . BACK TO:

NEWS HOST:

Before we start, I want to explain to our

viewers the unconventional format for

this interview. Our live audience is made

up entirely of news media and Dr.

Manhattan will be taking questions from

the floor. This commercial free broadcast

is presented to you by Veidt Enterprises.

We see Adrian standing near the audience with the Press

Agent, smiling for the camera.

(CONTINUED)

44.

CONTINUED:
(2)

CUT TO:
Laurie, driving a FIST into a Thug's NOSE, when

another Thug GRABS HER HAIR.

NEWS HOST (V.0.) (CONT'D)

We will now take our first question--

The Thug draws a PISTOL on her. Dan, still on the ground,

sees the gun and his eyes narrow, harden. He pushes himself

up off the ground.

CUT BACK TO:
The TV Studio AUDIENCE: where Doug Roth, the

journalist who interviewed Adrian earlier, stands.

DOUG ROTH:

Dr. Manhattan, Doug Roth, Nova Times. Do

you remember a man named Wally Weaver?

DR. MANHATTAN

Yes, he was a good friend of mine. When

we were both physicists.

DOUG ROTH:

He died of cancer.

DR. MANHATTAN

I remember. I attended his funeral.

DOUG ROTH:

How about Edgar Jacobi, also known as the

supervillian Moloch? You had a lot of

battles with him, didn't you? Did you

know that he has cancer as-well?

The News Host looks confused. Adrian turns to the Press

Agent, growing concerned with where this is leading.

CUT TO:
Dan, snapping the GUNMAN'S wrist back and up--

Barrel aimed at the Thug's CHIN. In the last fraction of a

second, Dan SHIFTS the gun two inches left as it FIRES,

deafening the Thug, but leaving him alive. BACK TO:

DR. MANHATTAN

I was not aware--

DOUG ROTH:

And what about Jose Flores? He was the

longtime janitor at the Watchmen

Headquarters where you worked for many

years. Cancer.

(CONTINUED)

45.

CONTINUED:
(3)

DR. MANHATTAN

By your line of questioning, you're

suggesting that I was the cause of cancer

in these individuals.

DOUG ROTH:

You tell me, doc.

Adrian turns to him.

ADRIAN:

Doug, that `s enough.

DR. MANHATTAN

It is irrelevant whether I was the cause

or not.

DOUG ROTH:

Irrelevant?

DR. MANHATTAN

A live human body and a dead human body

have the same number of particles.

Structurally there's no difference.

An appalled then angry buzz comes over the audience.

DOUG ROTH:

What about Janey Slater? Do you think it

makes a difference to her?

DR. MANHATTAN

Janey Slater? Wh--

DOUG ROTH:

Your ex-girlfriend, she was a physicist

too. You were with her for ten years. Or

does she have to remind you herself?

Suddenly Janey Slater emerges from a door at the top of the

stands. She is old now, frail, barely recognizable from the

images we've see of her.

DOUG ROTH (CONT'D)

She has cancer as well. Doctors have

given her six months. What do you have to

say, Ms. Slater?

He sticks the microphone in her face.

JANEY SLATER:

D-damn you, Jon. God damn you

(CONTINUED)

46.

CONTINUED:
(4)

She leaves as fast as she came, bursting into tears. Dr.

Manhattan stands, visibly shaken--

DR. MANHATTAN

No, Janey, wait!

In the audience, Adrian turns to the Press Agent, frantic.

ADRIAN:

We need to stop this now.

Adrian and the Press Agent hurry on stage, SECURITY

following.

PRESS AGENT:

That's it! Interview's over!

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.

CUT TO:
The TV studio, as Adrian and Security 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. Adrian shoves a camera out of

Dr. Manhattan's face.

ADRIAN:

As the sponsor of this program I demand

all cameras off!

His plea is futile, of course. A REPORTER breaks through,

gets in Dr. Manhattan's face.

REPORTER 1

Did you give Ms. Slater cancer by

sleeping with her?

DR. MANHATTAN

No. Please let me through

REPORTER 2

Do you even care about human life?

DR. MANHATTAN

Please. If everyone would just go away

and leave me alone.

Adrian hears the note of warning in his voice.

(CONTINUED)

47.

CONTINUED:
(5)

ADRIAN:

Everyone back off! Don't you understand?

He's the only thing preventing the world

from chaos!

DOUG ROTH:

How many other people did you do this to?

Dr. Manhattan finally SNAPS--

DR. MANHATTAN

I said LEAVE ME ALONE!

Every last person BURSTS INTO PARTICLES and DISAPPEARS. Dr.

Manhattan is suddenly alone. He looks stunned almost.

EXT. ROOF - SAME TIME

The TV audience materializes out on the roof

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT

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

LAURIE:

I should find a hotel. God. Imagine, us

getting mugged.

DAN:

Why don't you come by Hollis' with me?

Shake off the adrenaline.

LAURIE:

No thanks, I've had enough hero stuff for

one night.

(walking away)

You take care, Dan. It's a dangerous

world out there.

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