WATCHMEN
Episode 01: At Midnight, All the Agents...
Screenplay Written By
Matthew Orobko
Based Upon the Graphic Novel By
Alan Moore
Dave Gibbons
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Watchmen graphic novel. This script was written for pure entertainment purposes and is not intended to be made into an actual film.
FIRST DRAFT
July 8, 2006
“Quis custodiet ipsos custodies.”
[who watches the watchmen?]
-Juvenal, Satires, VI, 347
Quoted as the epigraphTower
Commission Report, 1987
FADE IN
Old newsreel footage from the late 30’s. Crime scene footage of 5 men, gagged and bound, bloody and dead. Police surround the scene taking photographs and collecting evidence. The footage is grainy, the sound is scratchy.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
October 14th, 1938. Trouble in the city that never sleeps. In the night, five men attempt a robbery at First Brooklyn Savings bank...
The footage switches to an exterior shot of a bank. Police tape surrounds the building. Police everywhere.
NARRATOR (V.O.) (CONT’D.)
Fortunately, in the name of the law, the police were not the only ones able to thwart the hoodlum’s dirty intentions. Eye witness reports are hazy but many turn to the work of a hooded vigilante who single-handedly took each goon down by his or herself.
A police officer is talking to a reporter on the footage. The subtitle beneath him reads:
Police Chief R. Savage
R. SAVAGE
We got a call at about 1 A.M. and when we turned up we found these 5 beauties tied up here like they received the beating of their lives...
Footage of the paramedics taking the bodies away on stretchers.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The 5 men were ultimately beaten to death by the masked adventure and although the individual appeared to have good intentions, a neighborhood trembles in fear. Does New York City have a vigilante in the midst? The following is an artist’s rendering of what the figure may have looked like based on eyewitness accounts...
A crudely drawn picture of a hooded figure wearing a black cloak and a noose tied around its neck is shown. The newsreel footage suddenly cuts out and is replaced with a skyline of New York City.
EXT. NEW YORK SKYLINE – NIGHT
It appears it is a cold night in the city that never sleeps as smoke from the tops of the buildings emanates into the atmosphere.
SUBTITLE:
New York City: OCTOBER 12TH – 1985
EXT. IN FRONT OF APARTMENT BUILDING – NIGHT
Many police cars are parked in front of an apartment building, including an ambulance. Police stand around, questioning people, some in tears. There seems to be a large commotion. A chalk outline of a person is drawn on the pavement below the building and blood stains the perimeter of the outline.
INT. APARTMENT – NIGHT
Two men, dressed in trench coats and presumable detectives wander around the apartment. In front of them a broken glass window is smeared with blood. Everything in the apartment is thrown around, evidence of a commotion. One of the detectives smokes a cigarette. He walks over to the broken window and looks down, to the commotion below, the smear of blood on the sidewalk directly below.
SMOKING DETECTIVE
Fuck...
Bulbs flash from forensic photographs being taken around the apartment.
DETECTIVE
What is wrong with people?
SMOKING DETECTIVE
What’s wrong with this city?
DETECTIVE
This was a cold blooded murder. I mean, sure some money was taken but look around. This guy had some serious art habits. None of it is touched.
SMOKING DETECTIVE
And did you see the look of the guy that was thrown out the window? He was fucking huge! Shit... It would take 2 guys to throw him out.
DETECTIVE
Who’s talking to the neighbors?
SMOKING DETECTIVE
Moore is. Gibbons is downstairs, talking to the people who were walking by when he hit the pavement.
DETECTIVE
Who was this guy?
The smoking detective pulls out a notepad and begins reading notes.
SMOKING DETECTIVE
Uhhhh... Edward Blake. We’re not really sure about anything else right now. He did some overseas diplomatic work for President Ford a few years ago, other than that...
DETECTIVE
Maybe this was political.
SMOKING DETECTIVE
Well, whatever it was... Somebody really wanted to see this guy go...
The smoking detective puts his cigarette out.
DETECTIVE
Come on, let’s let forensics finish up. We’ll go get a drink, I’m buying.
EXT. CITY STREETS – NIGHT
The two detectives exit the building. The one detective says something to a cop standing by the door.
DETECTIVE
Listen, make sure nobody comes or goes from 17th floor. No exceptions.
The police officer nods. The two begin walking down the city streets. There are homeless people everywhere. The streets are very grungy, garbage and can fires abound everywhere. In the background, a man is carrying a sign that reads: THE END IS NIGH. The two men pass by a wall in which someone has spray-painted the phrase: WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN?
SMOKING DETECTIVE
Jesus Christ... You can’t go 3 feet in this city without seeing that shit painted somewhere...
DETECTIVE
That’s another thing Dermott... This might be a pretty sensitive case. What with Blake involved in overseas political stuff. Keep this out of the public, tight to the station. The last thing we need are those fucking vigilantes involved in this...
DERMOTT
You’re still living in the past, Dick. That kind of shit doesn’t happen anymore. Not since the Keene Act of ’77. Get your head out of your ass! It’s only the government funded weirdoes who are still active. And they don’t mind with anybody else’s business except their own...
DICK
It’s not them I’m worried about. Rorschach still wanders around, playing hero trying to save the world. He causes more harm then good.
DERMOTT
Rorschach is out of his mind, Dick! He’s out of the picture.
EXT. ROOFTOP – NIGHT
A man, perched on a building rooftop wearing a brown trench coat, striped blue pants and bowler hat sits stationary, overlooking the city. This man is Rorschach.
RORSCHACH (V.O.)
Who watches the watchmen? Not a day goes by when I don’t have to see that filth painted on the city walls. These people. These people that threw us away... Now look what this city’s become. We can’t even do anything about it anymore. People would rather suffer than employ our help in rooting out the decaying insides of this festering city. I don’t understand it. They’re on the fast track to hell and don’t even know it.
Rorschach turns and sees the commotion at the base of the apartment building. The police and ambulances start to file out, people begin to dissipate. As Rorschach turns, he reveals his face to be that of a constantly changing, black ink-blot like design. The black on his face constantly changes exactly like a Rorschach ink-blot test. He pulls out a grapple hook and shoots it into the broken window of the apartment in which Eddie Blake was thrown out.
RORSCHACH (V.O.)
But then again, someone has to care.
He pushes a button on the grappling hook and it propels him forward, across the street, diving into the apartment.
INT. EDDIE BLAKE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Rorschach begins calmly and methodically wandering through the apartment. He touches everything as he walks through it. He picks up photographs and random objects.
RORSCHACH (V.O.)
There was just something not right with this one. A symbolic killing maybe? I don’t know anymore.
Rorschach turns to his left and sees, lying on the ground with blood smeared on it, a small happy-face pin. He picks it up and holds it in his hands. He moves over to a desk where there is a picture of Eddie Blake shaking hands with President Ford. Rorschach moves over to his bedroom.
As he approaches the small and manageable closet Rorschach pockets the happy face pin. He opens the closet door and begins feeling around the door and its frame. His fingers move over a small grey button. He pushes it. Mysteriously, the back panel of the closet slides back to reveal and leather outfit, complete with hood, gun, shield and a photograph tacked to the wall. Rorschach is taken aback in surprise. He slowly reaches for the photograph and examines it. The photograph is of a group of people (all men, one woman) dressed in strange and bizarre costumes. They all appear to be holding a bottle of champagne. In the background of the photograph is a figure that resembles the artist’s rendering from the opening newsreel footage. Rorschach turns the photo over where the caption: MINUTEMEN X-MAS PARTY ’39 is handwritten in pencil. Rorschach looks over the super hero costume hanging on the wall in front of him...
RORSCHACH
The Comedian...
BLACK.
Over the black...
VOICE (V.O.)
After all these years... I just wonder, you know?
INT. APARTMENT – NIGHT
Various pictures of costumed men and women, embracing a celebration. They are all hugging or toasting the camera with a glass of something (presumably, champagne).
VOICE (O.S.)
It all has to do with age. It’s 100% age. I mean... You were a better Nite Owl then I ever was, that’s for sure...
OTHER VOICE (O.S.)
(laughs)
You’re so flattering...
Two mean are sitting at a kitchen table, each with a cup of coffee. One is considerably older than the other. The older one is still very fit and sits at the table with silver-grey hair and a very physically-well off body. The other is young. Blonde, clichéd hair. Fashion-statement eye glasses. The ‘All-American Boy’...
YOUNG MAN
You were the only one nobody wanted to fuck with in the 40’s, Hollis.
HOLLIS
And you’re the only one nobody wants to fuck with now, Daniel.
Daniel laughs, looks at the clock, then proceeds to rise.
DANIEL
Listen, it’s almost midnight, I gotta split...
HOLLIS
Have to get to all that crime fighting I see...
DANIEL
It’s not like that Hollis. Not anymore.
Daniel pulls up his collar and leaves through the backdoor of his apartment. He climbs over the fire escape and begins descending the ladder into the alley.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY ALLEY – NIGHT
Daniel begins walking through the alley. Once again, ‘WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN?’ is spray painted on walls in graffiti-like lettering.
RORSCHACH (O.S.)
Words from the mentor again, eh Danny?
Daniel seems startled.
DANIEL
Jesus Christ! Rorschach. What the hell is the matter with you?
Rorschach steps out of the shadows.
RORSCHACH
You just can’t help it. You’re little meetings with Hollis Mason every week. What do you guys chat about anyways?
DANIEL
It’s nothing important. What do you want anyways?
RORSCHACH
It’s about The Comedian.
Daniel suddenly seems shocked and interested.
INT. DANIEL’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Rorschach is sitting at the kitchen table. Daniel prepares some coffee and hands it to Rorschach.
DANIEL
What was his real name?
RORSCHACH
Eddie Blake.
Rorschach rolls his cloth mask up over his mouth and begins sipping his coffee, keeping his eyes concealed by the mask.
RORSCHACH (CONT’D.)
I visited his apartment. It wasn’t just a coincidence.
DANIEL
What are saying?
Daniel begins to walk down the alley, trying to ignore Rorschach. Rorschach follows.
RORSCHACH
Whoever killed Eddie Blake knew he was The Comedian. And that’s why he killed him.
Daniel runs up to Rorschach and gets very serious.
DANIEL
Keep your voice down! Jesus Christ. When will you learn that The Minutemen were finished in the 70’s? You’re still running around New York in that stupid costume playing detective! Pretending to be a hero...
RORSCHACH
Our work was never done. You of all people should agree to that.
DANIEL
Can’t we discuss this at my place?
RORSCHACH
If you would like.
INT. DANIEL’S WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
Rorschach and Daniel enter into a large warehouse. Lights are flicked on and the building is illuminated. A large vehicle of some sort sits in the middle of the floor, a black canvas completely covering it. Elsewhere, the floor is lined with rows of lockers. There seems to be an armory of some sort in the corner of the building and Rorschach whistles in amazement.
RORSCHACH
I can’t believe you still have all of this stuff...
DANIEL
It’s the sentiment in me. I take pride in my work I guess.
Rorschach walks up to the large covered vehicle and sweeps his hand over it.
RORSCHACH
Is this Archie?
DANIEL
It sure is. The bird still runs. I come down here every couple weeks to turn the engines on and give it a bit of elbow-grease.
RORSCHACH
And I thought you quit.
DANIEL
I did.
RORSCHACH
We might need to get back in the game, Daniel.
Pause.
DANIEL
Are you crazy? It’s illegal Rorschach. ILLEGAL. God knows why you still prance around like that...
RORSCHACH
Because one day, they will need us. They can’t just throw us away.
DANIEL
But they did. They can throw us away and they did. Accept it. Accept that The Comedian was killed by a prowler; it had nothing to do with the fact that he knew who he was. End of story.
RORSCHACH
We’ll see. Keep the Nite Owl ready. Something is coming...
Rorschach leaves the warehouse. Daniel sighs and sees that Rorschach left the happy face button on his work bench. Daniel picks it up, sighs and sits down on a bench in front of an opened locker. A costume is hanging in the locker behind him. Nite Owl’s costume.
EXT. THE VEIDTBUILDING – NIGHT
A gigantically tall skyscraper reaches into the black New York sky. At the top, in giant red neon letters, it is written: VEIDT.
VOICE (O.S.)
The Comedian is dead?
INT. VEIDT’S OFFICE – NIGHT
A virtually empty gigantic office is sitting, perched in the Veidt building. A lone desk with a wall of video monitors are the only things that over look the city from a wall of glass. Rorschach stands in front of the desk while a man wearing a purple suit and yellow-blond hair stairs out the window.
RORSCHACH
I spoke to Daniel about it.
The man turns around, interested.
MAN
And what did he have to say about it?
RORSCHACH
He didn’t seem very interested. Very distant.
The man turns around.
MAN
Why would anyone want The Comedian dead? To me, it doesn’t make any sense.
RORSCHACH
You always claimed to be the world’s smartest man, Adrian. I thought you would already know.
ADRIAN
There’s very little that I do know, Rorschach. Especially with this world going right to hell. We’re on the brink of WWIII. You come to my building with this shit? What exactly are you getting at Rorschach? A conspiracy? Is there a mask killer out there? Huh?
RORSCHACH
You pretend to be so arrogantly smug. You sit on an empire of toys and memorabilia based around your old image. What do you hope to accomplish from this? Anything?
ADRIAN
I don’t hope to accomplish anything.
RORSCHACH
I think this murder requires more attention than anyone wants to give.
Adrian turns towards the black city again.
ADRIAN
So you came here to warn me. Is that it? You think I could be next? Well what about you? What about Jon and Dan? What about Laurie? Did you warn them to? What about yourself for that matter? Aren’t you afraid if your ridiculous suspicions turn out to be true?
Rorschach puts his hat on.
RORSCHACH
I would like for you to leave. Now.
Rorschach walks up to an opened window where a grappling hook ladder descends from the window down to the street. Rorschach slides down the rope, into the night. Adrian is left alone to stare out his window, at the city.
EXT.ROCKEFELLARMILITARYRESEARCHCENTER – NIGHT
Rorschach climbs over a barbed wire fence using his grappling hook. He descends into a military compound of the other side.
RORSCHACH (V.O.)
I haven’t seen Jon or Laurie in years. As far as I know they both share a residence here. Jon works for the military. Laurie is there to keep him under control. I guess they think that Jon will be able to single-handedly stop WWIII. Should it start.
INT. RESEARCH FACILITY HALLWAY – NIGHT
Rorschach walks quietly through the hallways of the facility. At the end of the hall a door is open a few inches and a blue, hazy light shines through. Rorschach enters through the door.
VOICE (O.S.)
Hello Rorschach.
An enormous blue man stands in a giant hall full of military and electronic equipment. He is bald and completely naked. His eyes are almost fluorescent white.
RORSCHACH
How have you been Dr. Manhattan?
Dr. Manhattan begins walking towards, Rorschach. As he approaches, he grows smaller, eventually matching the size of Rorschach.
WOMAN (O.S.)