Watchmen Page #5

DOUG ROTH:

Mr. Veidt, would you acknowledge that you

are considered the world's smartest man?

ADRIAN:

(LAUGHS)

I think it's better to be the world's

most modest man. You should ignore my PR

people, they tend to be a little too

enthusiastic.

Though Adrian seems to be sprinting at top speed, he hardly

seems out of breath as he answers questions.

DOUG ROTH:

If we could move off the subject of

business for a moment, I'm curious

whether the world's smartest man thinks

we're headed for our next World War.

Adrian stops the treadmill, towels off as he heads to Dan.

ADRIAN:

Predicting stock prices isn't the same as

predicting world events. I hope there

isn't a war, or even a skirmish for that

matter. Because Veidt Enterprises has

some exciting plans, plans that will,

pardon the cliche, truly make this world

a better place. My team of engineers and

scientists have been working with Dr.

Manhattan himself on synthesizing a new,

cheap form of energy which will eliminate

the worlds reliance on fossil fuels with

no toxic emissions. This energy could

power cars, aircrafts, stadiums--there

are no limitations--

(reaching Dan)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

16.

CONTINUED:

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

--but I talk too much. Will you mind

pausing the interview a moment, Doug? A

good friend of mine is here.

Doug Roth leaves. Adrian hugs Dan, despite the sweat.

DAN:

You look good, Adrian.

ADRIAN:

Dan--it's been far too long.

INT. ADRIAN VEIDT'S OFFICE - LATER

Dan and Adrian sit, talking over coffee. Dan examines an

ACTION-FIGURE of Adrian as OZYMANDIAS (his superhero alias).

ADRIAN:

Rorschach. He paid me a visit too.

DAN:

He did? Must've been tough to get past

your security, even for him. I thought

your assistant was going to take me out.

ADRIAN:

(LAUGHS)

Sara can be tough. Is that why you came

to see me? You're worried about this mask

killer theory Rorschach's conjured up?

DAN:

You're the world's smartest man, Adrian.

You tell me.

ADRIAN:

Rorschach's a sociopath suffering through

nostalgia. I revealed my identity to the

public as soon as the Keene Act was

passed. If an old enemy wanted me dead it

would have been done already.

Adrian notices the news on one of his TV projectors.

Something about Pakistan putting troops along the Indian

border. Adrian turns up the volume, looking grim.

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

No, there are other things in the world

I'm far more concerned about.

ON THE WALL:
The TV projector shows an image of TWO PAKISTANI

SOLDIERS on patrol.

17.

EXT. PAKISTAN/INDIA BORDER (KASHMIR) - SAME TIME

We're now actually with the two Soldiers on patrol. One of

the Soldiers takes out a pair of binoculars, looking into the

mountains. (They speak in Baluchi)

PAKISTANI SOLDIER

We should attack the Indian bastards. I

don't understand--

CUT TO:
POV--a SNIPER SCOPE, locked in on the Pakistani

soldier.

INDIAN SOLDIER #1 (O.S.)

--why I can't just pull this trigger.

We see two Indian Soldiers, hidden in the mountains, one with

his sniper rifle aimed. (They speak in Hindi)

INDIAN SOLDIER #2

Because then a battle begins. Then a war.

And then the Americans will send--

INT. BRIDGE - BATTLESHIP - CHINESE WATERS - SAME TIME

CHINESE CAPTAIN:

(in Mandarin)

--their blue abomination to intervene.

And we don't want that. At the same time,

we can't assume to know what's on the

minds of our enemies.

We're in Chinese waters, off the coast of Taiwan. The CHINESE

CAPTAIN and his First Mate look out at the water. TAIWANESE

GUNBOATS can be seen in the distance.

INT. MISSILE CONTROL ROOM - ISRAEL - SAME TIME

We're in the control room as an ISRAELI OFFICER and his much

younger AIDE watch SATELLITE IMAGES on the giant screen.

Images of potential targets. (They speak in Hebrew)

AIDE:

Is Dr. Manhattan even real?

ISRAELI OFFICER:

Why don't you ask the Vietnamese. Or the

Iraqis? Dr. Manhattan is real. Thank god

for that.

18.

EXT. ROCKEFELLER MILITARY BASE - EVENING

A SIGN posted on a RAZOR-WIRE FENCE reads: ROCKEFELLER

MILITARY RESEARCH CENTER. An M16-toting GUARD stands at the

gate.

We move into Rorschach's POV as he approaches the gate. The

guard has no reaction to Rorschach--

--because Rorschach is in disguise, wearing the Army

Officer's uniform he stole. Rorschach presents his ID. The

Guard waves him through.

INT. HALLWAY - DR. MANHATTAN'S COMPOUND - EVENING

Rorschach ditches the uniform in the trash and puts his mask

on. He quietly enters--

INT. LABORATORY - CONTINUOUS

--a huge room, which contains technologically advanced

MILITARY DEVICES. Distorted in sections of GLASS, we see the

REFLECTION of a HUGE MAN, GLOWING BRIGHT BLUE--

DR. MANHATTAN (O.S.)

Good evening, Rorschach.

--and we see DR. MANHATTAN (formerly Jon Osterman) for the

very first time. He is SIXTY FEET TALL, BLUE LIGHT ripples

from his skin, emanating pure power--he is God on earth. He

works on a reactor--telekinetically moving parts in the air--

not even looking at Rorschach. It's as if Dr. Manhattan

already knew he was coming.

RORSCHACH:

Dr. Manhattan.

Dr. Manhattan continues about his business when his

girlfriend, LAURIE JUPITER, 30, very much in her prime,

enters from the other end.

LAURIE:

Jon, did you say some--Rorschach: What

are you doing here? You're a wanted man.

RORSCHACH:

Nice to see you too, Silk Spectre.

LAURIE:

Don't call me that. My mother made me

take that name. I always hated it.

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