Watchmen (2009)
Patrick Wilson: Dan Dreiberg, Nite Owl
Photos
Quotes
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Adrian Veidt : The Comedian was right. Humanity's savage nature will inevitably lead to global annihilation. So in order to save this planet, I have to trick it... with the greatest practical joke in human history.
Dan Dreiberg : Killing millions?
Adrian Veidt : To save billions. A necessary crime.
Rorschach : You know we can't let you do that.
Adrian Veidt : 'Do that', Rorschach? I'm not a comic book villain. Do you seriously think I would explain my master stroke to you if there were even the slightest possibility you could affect the outcome? I triggered it 35 minutes ago.
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Adrian Veidt : [Nixon finishes his speech on Veidt's TVs] Do you see? It's your super powers retreating from war. I've saved the Earth from hell. We both have. This is as much your victory as it is mine. Now we can return. Do what we were meant to.
Rorschach : We were meant to exact justice! Everyone's gonna know what you've done...
Adrian Veidt : Will they? By exposing me, you would sacrifice the peace so many died for today.
Dan Dreiberg : Peace based on a lie.
Adrian Veidt : But peace! Nonetheless.
Jon Osterman : ...He's right. Exposing Adrian would only doom the world to Nuclear destruction again.
Laurie Juspeczyk : No... we can't do this.
Jon Osterman : On Mars, you taught me the value of life. If we hope to preserve it here, we must remain silent.
Rorschach : Keep your own secrets...
[the others look as Rorscach leaves, then Jon and Adrian make eye contact]
Dan Dreiberg : Don't even think about it.
[Goes after Rorscach]
Dan Dreiberg : Rorscach! Wait.
Rorschach : [Turns] Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon. That's always been the difference between us, Daniel.
[Leaves the building]
Adrian Veidt : I've made myself feel every death... see every innocent face I've murdered to save humanity.
[Turns to Jon]
Adrian Veidt : You understand, don't you?
Jon Osterman : Without condoning... or condemning. I understand.
Rorschach : [Outside, in the snow, Rorscach comes across a copy of Jon standing in the snow] Out of my way. People have to be told.
Jon Osterman : You know I can't let you do that.
Rorschach : Suddenly you discover humanity. Convenient.
[Takes off his mask]
Rorschach : If you'd cared from the start, none of this would've happened.
Jon Osterman : I can change almost anything... but I can't change human nature.
Rorschach : Of course, you must protect Veidt's new Utopia. One more body amongst foundations makes little difference. Well, what are you waiting for? Do it...
[Jon hesitates]
Rorschach : DO IT!
[Jon makes Rorscach explode into a pile of blood]
Dan Dreiberg : NOOOOOOOO!
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Laurie Juspeczyk : Do you remember that crazy guy? What did he call himself... Captain Carnage. The one who used to pretend he was a supervillain just so he could get beaten up all the time?
Dan Dreiberg : Yeah, he tried that on me once. I just walked away. He starts following me down the street in broad daylight, yelling 'Punish me! Punish me!' I'm just saying 'No! Get lost.'
Laurie Juspeczyk : God. Whatever happened to him?
Dan Dreiberg : Well, he pulled that on Rorschach, and Rorschach dropped him down an elevator shaft.
[pause, then both laugh]
Laurie Juspeczyk : Oh my god. That isn't even funny.
Dan Dreiberg : [laughing] It is a *little* funny.
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Dan Dreiberg : What happened to us? What happened to the American Dream?
Edward Blake : "What happened to the American Dream?" It came true! You're lookin' at it...
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Rorschach : We need to squeeze people.
Dan Dreiberg : [sarcastic] Sure. We'll pick them out of a phone book.
Rorschach : You forgot how we do things, Daniel. You've gotten too soft. Too trusting. Especially with women.
Dan Dreiberg : No, listen, I am through with that! God, who do you think you are, Rorschach? You live off people while insulting them and nobody complains because they think you're a goddamn lunatic!
Dan Dreiberg : [Rorschach approaches Dan, who sighs and turns to him] I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, man.
Rorschach : Daniel? You are a good friend.
[extends his hand and Dan takes it]
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Dan Dreiberg : I'm not the one still hiding behind a mask.
Rorschach : No. You're hiding in plain sight.
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Adrian Veidt : Dan. A world united in peace... there had to be sacrifice.
Dan Dreiberg : No! You haven't idealized mankind but you've... you've deformed it! You mutilated it. That's your legacy. That's the real practical joke.
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Edward Blake : God damn I love working on American soil, Dan. Ain't had this much fun since Woodward and Bernstein.
Dan Dreiberg : How long can we keep this up?
Edward Blake : Congress is pushing through some new bill that's gonna outlaw masks. Our days are numbered. Till then it's like you always say, we're society's only protection.
Dan Dreiberg : From what?
Edward Blake : You kidding me? From themselves.
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Laurie Juspeczyk : [after rolling down the cab window] I'm sorry. I invited you out to dinner to catch up and have a few laughs... but there don't seem to be many laughs around these days.
Dan Dreiberg : What do you expect? The Comedian's dead.
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Dan Dreiberg : [referring to the exit tunnel] There's a maintenance hatch that will let you out two blocks north.
Rorschach : I remember. I used to come here often, back when we were partners.
Dan Dreiberg : Those were good times, huh Rorschach? What happened?
Rorschach : [as he walks down the tunnel] You quit.
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Laurie Juspeczyk : [about Dr Manhattan] I can't even tell if he actually cares about me any more, or if he's just pretending.
Dan Dreiberg : If he's pretending, it means he cares.
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Dan Dreiberg : So I've been thinking, I feel we have an obligation to our fraternity... I think we oughta spring Rorshach.
Laurie Juspeczyk : What?
Dan Dreiberg : Someone set him up. This whole cancer thing with Jon, it just doesn't make sense. You didn't get it.
Laurie Juspeczyk : Yeah, but breaking into a maximum security prison is a lot different than putting out a fire.
Dan Dreiberg : Yeah, you're right... it'll be more fun.
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Doug Roth : Mr. Veidt, to date, you're one of only two Watchmen ever to reveal their true identity to the world, the first being Hollis Mason. And you've certainly profited greatly by it turning your superhero alter ego, Ozymandias, into a billion-dollar industry: toys, lunchboxes, genetic engineering. I understand there's a movie in the works.
Adrian Veidt : I'm not hearing a question, Mr. Roth.
Doug Roth : I'm sorry. Do you think...
Adrian Veidt : The other Watchmen resent me for prostituting their struggle? It's a fair question. Yes, it's crossed my mind some of my old colleagues might see it that way, just as you're clearly aware that biased journalism sells more magazines. The merchandising arm of Veidt Industries is funding our work with Dr. Manhattan. We recently expanded our research facility in Antarctica in the hope of developing cheap, renewable sources of energy that we might eliminate the world's reliance on fossil fuels. Now, it doesn't take a political scientist to see that our Cold War with the Russians isn't ideological - it's based upon fear. Fear of not having enough. But if we make resources infinite... ah... we make war obsolete. I would hope the other Watchmen understand that. Wherever they may be. Thanks for your time.
Dan Dreiberg : You look good, Adrian.
Adrian Veidt : Dan. It's been too long. So Rorschach thinks someone's hunting the Watchmen, huh?
Dan Dreiberg : You think it's possible?
Adrian Veidt : Statistically, one murder doesn't equal a trend. Rorschach's a sociopath, Dan. And so was the Comedian. He was practically a Nazi. You know that better than anyone.
Dan Dreiberg : I'm not here because I miss him.
Adrian Veidt : It's occurred to Rorschach that we're the only ones who know each other's identities.
Dan Dreiberg : Actually, the whole world knows yours. That's why I'm warning you first.
Adrian Veidt : Thank you, Dan, but I fear there's something much more real to worry about than Rorschach's mask killer.
Dan Dreiberg : If the Russians do launch their nukes, can Jon really stop them?
Adrian Veidt : The Soviets have 51,000 warheads stockpiled. Even if Jon stops 99 percent of them, the 1 percent that get through could still kill every living thing on Earth. Even Dr. Manhattan can't be everywhere at once.
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Dan Dreiberg : Maybe this was a political killing?
Rorschach : Maybe. Or maybe someone's picking off costumed heroes.
Dan Dreiberg : Um. Don't you think that's maybe a little paranoid?
Rorschach : That's what they're saying about me now? That I'm paranoid?
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Dan Dreiberg : [examining blood stained Comedian badge] Is that bean juice?
Rorschach : Human bean juice. Badge belonged to The Comedian. Blood too. He's dead.
Dan Dreiberg : Let's talk downstairs.
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Laurie Juspeczyk : Dan?
[steps toward him]
Laurie Juspeczyk : Is everything alright?
Dan Dreiberg : God I'm tired of being afraid, afraid of war, afraid of the mask-killer... and afraid of this goddamn suit, and how much I need it.
Laurie Juspeczyk : Me too. So to hell with it; let's take Archi out.
Dan Dreiberg : [Dan turns his head and takes a long look at her] You're serious.
[not as a question]
Laurie Juspeczyk : I used to be a masked avenger too, you know; I'm used to getting up at 3 in the morning and doing something stupid.
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Dan Dreiberg : Adrian's a pacifist. He's a vegetarian, for chrissakes. He's never killed anyone in his life.
Rorschach : Hitler was vegetarian. You're squeamish, leave him to me. We won't get second chance.
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Hollis Mason : [about Rorshach] They forced everyone out except him.
Dan Dreiberg : Oh he'll quit. When he's dead.
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Hollis Mason : Truth: you were a better Nite Owl than I ever was, Danny boy.
Dan Dreiberg : Hollis, we both know that's bullshit.
Hollis Mason : Hey, watch with the language! This was the left hook that took out Captain Axis! Remember?
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Rorschach : The engines!
Dan Dreiberg : They're icing up. Hold on to something!
Rorschach : Daniel, you're coming in too low. Don't wish to interfere with running of ship, but perhaps should pull up sharply before...
Dan Dreiberg : Yeah, I know, I'm trying! I'm trying to pull him up, goddamnit!
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Rorschach : How's your friend Hollis Mason?
Dan Dreiberg : What's Hollis got to do with any of this?
Rorschach : He wrote that book. Said some things about the Comedian in it.
Dan Dreiberg : I don't like what you're implying. I like being followed even less.
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Adrian Veidt : [Nixon finishes his speech on Veidt's TVs] Do you see? Two super powers retreating from war. I've saved the Earth from hell. We both have. This is as much your victory as it is mine. Now we can return. Do what we were meant to.
Rorschach : We were meant to exact justice! Everyone's gonna know what you've done...
Adrian Veidt : Will they? By exposing me, you would sacrifice the peace so many died for today.
Dan Dreiberg : Peace based on a lie.
Adrian Veidt : But peace! Nonetheless.
Jon Osterman : ...He's right. Exposing Adrian would only doom the world to Nuclear destruction again.
Laurie Juspeczyk : No... we can't do this.
Jon Osterman : On Mars, you taught me the value of life. If we hope to preserve it here, we must remain silent.
Rorschach : Keep your own secrets...
[the others look as Rorscach leaves, then Jon and Adrian make eye contact]
Dan Dreiberg : Don't even think about it.
[Goes after Rorscach]
Dan Dreiberg : Rorscach! Wait.
Rorschach : [Turns] Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon. That's always been the difference between us, Daniel.
[Leaves the building]
Adrian Veidt : I've made myself feel every death... see every innocent face I've murdered to save humanity.
[Turns to Jon]
Adrian Veidt : You understand, don't you?
Jon Osterman : Without condoning... or condemning. I understand.
-
[after shaking Rorschach's hand]
Dan Dreiberg : Let's do it your way.
