Watchmen Page #22

DAN:

You don't have to do this. I know the

whole crimefighting thing wasn't

necessarily your choice in life.

LAURIE:

No. But this is.

She moves next to him.

LAURIE (CONT'D)

But I'm not doing it for Rorschach or

even for Jon. And I'm sure as hell not

doing if for the Comedian.

They look at each other--Dan knows who she's doing it for.

The Owl-Ship is upon the prison now

LAURIE (CONT'D)

Look!

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 scattered through the yard; SMOKE

emits from inside the prison.

DAN:

Hmm, Rorschach gets locked up in here and

suddenly there's a riot. I wonder if

that's a coincidence.

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.

(CONTINUED)

84.

CONTINUED:

DAN (CONT'D)

Put your ear-plugs in.

EXT. PRISON YARD - NIGHT

The ship emits a PIERCING SHRIEK. WINDOWS SHATTER. The

Inmates and Guards fall to the ground in sonic agony.

INT. OWL-SHIP (MOVING) - CONTINUOUS

LAURIE:

How are we going to find Rorschach in all

of this?

DAN:

When he and I were partners, we each had

tracking implants put under our skin so

old Archie here could find us if either

one of us were ever in trouble. Let's see

if Rorschach kept his in.

Dan turns on the GPS monitor. There's a BLIP on the screen.

DAN (CONT'D)

He's in that wing.

Dan steers the ship toward the Maximum Security Wing. 9

EXT. PRISON - MAXIMUM SECURITY WING - CONTINUOUS

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.

INT. PRISON HALLS - NIGHT

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. Laurie spots the

BODY of a DEAD GUARD. She crouches to take his PISTOL, slips

it into her waistband.

LAURIE:

How do we know he's still alive?

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.

(CONTINUED)

85

CONTINUED:

DAN:

He's alive.

INT. PRISON HALLS - NIGHT

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.

LAURIE:

Is that--

DAN:

Rorschach? Rorschach!

RORSCHACH:

Hello, Daniel, Ms. Jupiter. Excuse me, I

just have to visit the men's room.

He disappears into the dark bathroom. Laurie watches after

him in stunned disbelief.

LAURIE:

Oh, for Christ's sake.

DAN:

Hey, it happens. I remember I lost a big

arrest like that once. Had to redesign

the costume after that--

Rorschach exits the bathroom, wiping his hands.

RORSCHACH:

We can leave now.

He walks off.

LAURIE:

Are you sure you're ready? We don't want

to go diving head-first into things.

RORSCHACH:

Good Advice. I'm sure there are many

who'd agree with you.

Behind them:
BLOODY WATER FLOODS from the bathroom door as

they go.

EXT. PRISON ROOFTOP - NIGHT

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

(CONTINUED)

86.

CONTINUED:

RORSCHACH:

Good to see you in uniform, Daniel. What

happened? Finally taking the mask-killer

seriously?

LAURIE:

I'm not.

RORSCHACH:

Of course you haven't been attacked yet.

Funny, most everyone else has.

LAURIE:

What's that supposed to mean? We came

here to rescue you, a**hole!

DAN:

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.

EXT. PRISON - NIGHT

Under HEAVY FIRE the Owl-Ship ZOOMS OFF, leaving the chaos

behind.

INT. OWL-SHIP (MOVING) NIGHT

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:

Rorschach, you remember how to handle

Archie?

RORSCHACH:

I believe so.

Rorschach sits in the pilot's seat. Dan turns to Laurie, high

on adrenaline and love. Dan moves in to kiss her--

RORSCHACH (CONT'D)

Daniel.

DAN:

Give us a second--

RORSCHACH:

I don't think this can wait.

(CONTINUED)

87.

CONTINUED:

DAN:

What? What is it

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

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

SHIP.

LAURIE:

It `s him.

The ship COLLIDES with Dr. Manhattan, who PASSES THROUGH into

the CABIN with a SHOWER of BLUE PARTICLES--

DR. MANHATTAN

Hello Laurie.

LAURIE:

They said you were on Mars.

DR. MANHATTAN

I am on Mars. You and I are about to have

a conversation there.

LAURIE:

Where? What are you talking about?

DR. MANHATTAN

You are going to try to convince me to

save the world.

DAN:

Wait, what? You're taking her to Mars?

No, she can't--Laurie, I don't know about

THIS:

Laurie looks at Dan then at Dr. Manhattan. Comprehending

LAURIE:

I have to go, Dan. Jon and I, we're going

to talk. Maybe we'll find some way out of

this mess the world's gotten itself in.

I'll be okay. Really.

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