Watchmen Page #20

DAN:

Mask killers. War. Nuclear annihilation.

I feel so powerless, so I've been

afraid of this damn costume. Afraid of

how much I need it.

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

LAURIE:

So. Let's take the ship out.

DAN:

What?

LAURIE:

Who's to know? I used to be a "masked

avenger" too, remember? I'm used to

getting up at three in the morning to do

something stupid. Besides, I'm already a

wanted lady, you're already in trouble

for hiding me, how much more trouble can

we be in? Just give me a second--can't go

out like this.

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

INT. DAN'S OWL-CHAMBER - LATER

PAN UP:
DAN'S COSTUMED BODY. The Nite Owl suit is fantastic,

intricate, but above the belly . it just barely fits, Dan

managing to CLICK it closed.

DAN:

I can't believe it still fits. Luckily I

constructed it with material that was

elastic and--

Dan turns as Laurie appears at the door, decked in her BLACK

SPANDEX. SILK SPECTRE, looking every bit as good as seventeen-

DAN (CONT'D)

--form fitting

(CONTINUED)

76.

CONTINUED:

LAURIE:

I'm ready.

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

DAN:

Me too.

INT. OWL-SHIP (MOVING) - NIGHT

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.

DAN:

Let's have some cloud cover.

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

THICK FOG POURS FROM LOWER-DECK JETS as the ship RISES into

an ABANDONED WAREHOUSE, whose steel roof ROLLS BACK.

INT. OWL-SHIP (MOVING) - NIGHT

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

LAURIE:

It's so beautiful

DAN:

Hang on.

Dan BANKS, wheeling the ship toward the VELDT BUILDING.

DAN (CONT'D)

Got to clean her up a bit. I'm sure

Adrian wouldn't want to impede the course

of justice.

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.

LAURIE:

Look!

Below, a TENEMENT BUILDING is ENGULFED IN FLAME. Dan's jaw

sets. He wheels the ship around and down. As they zoom

closer, they can see people SCREAMING from the windows.

(CONTINUED)

77.

CONTINUED:

LAURIE (CONT'D)

There's children in there!

DAN:

I'm putting the water cannons on the

lower stories.

(over the LOUDSPEAKERS)

PLEASE REMAIN CALM. WE ARE SLOWING THE

FIRE DOWN FROM BELOW. CALMLY MAKE YOUR

WAY TO THE ROOF AND I'LL EXTEND A RAMP TO

YOU.

(to Laurie)

Can you escort the people over?

She watches him move, quick, confident. She smiles.

LAURIE:

I'm on it. Nite Owl.

EXT. TENEMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

The ship EXTENDS AN ESCAPE RAMP with Laurie on board. The

residents forget their fear of fire for a moment as they soak

in the spectacle of this sexy lady on this Owl-Ship.

LAURIE:

Hi. If you could all form a line, we'll

have you out of here in just a moment.

ATOP THE SHIP:
Dan latches the steering column into its roof

socket. He stands; Takes a deep, chest-expanding breath. Who

has he been kidding? This is who he is. Flicking a switch OLD

JAZZ plays pleasantly.

INT. OWL-SHIP - NIGHT

Below, the residents file on board, in a daze at their

surroundings. Laurie grins at the music.

LAURIE:

Anybody want coffee?

EXT. OWL-SHIP (MOVING) - NIGHT

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.

78.

INT. OWL-SHIP (MOVING) - NIGHT

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

LAURIE:

I can't believe we did that! That was

actually fun

DAN:

Yeah.

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.

INT. OWL-SHIP - LATER

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

costumes.

LAURIE:

It was good, wasn't it?

DAN:

Yeah, saving those people from the fire.

Taking Archie out

Laurie swats him on the chest--that's not what she meant. Dan

grins, having fun with her.

DAN (CONT'D)

It--you were unbelievable.

They kiss.

LAURIE:

So . what do we do next?

Dan sits up, serious. Very serious.

DAN:

I've been thinking about that. And I

believe we have certain obligations to

our fraternity.

(BEAT)

I think we should spring Rorschach.

EXT. OWL-SHIP - CONTINUOUS

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

(CONTINUED)

79.

CONTINUED:

LAURIE (V.0.)

What?

INT. PRISON MEDICAL ROOM - NIGHT

The Prisoner Rorschach burned lies in bed, his face

completely bandaged, hooked to an IV . . when he FLATLINES.

INT. RORSCHACH'S PRISON CELL - NIGHT

Down the dark corridors, a ROAR is building. ALARMS ring. Big

Figure and his two Thugs appear at the door.

BIG FIGURE:

He's dead, Rorschach--the riot's already

begun. While everyone's distracted, we

thought we'd bring you a housewarming

gift. Something from the machine shop.

The Fat Thug wheels an ELECTRICAL WELDER to the door.

Rorschach sits, idly TEARING his PRISON SHIRT into STRIPS.

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