V FOR VENDETTA
Written by
Larry and Andy Wachowski
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore
FADE IN:
In the darkness, we hear a voice, a woman's voice. Her name
is Evey.
EVEY (V.O.)
"Remember, remember, the fifth of
November, the gunpowder treason and
plot. I know of now reason why the
gunpowder treason should ever be
forgot."
Her voice has a strength that is metered by a calmness, a
deep centered peace that we can feel.
EVEY (V.O.)
Those were almost the very first
words he spoke to me and, in a way,
that is where this story began,
four hundred years ago, in a cellar
beneath the Houses of Parliament.
In the darkness, we find a lantern. Guy Fawkes, a dangerous
man who wears a goatee, is struggling with a wheelbarrow
stacked with barrels of gunpowder.
EVEY (V.O.)
In 1605, Guy Fawkes attempted to
blow up the Houses of Parliament.
The wheelbarrow bumps over the heavy stone mortar of the
cellar floor. From the dark depths, we hear the sound of
dogs.
EVEY (V.O.)
He was caught in the cellars with
enough gunpowder to level most of
London.
Guy sees lanterns coming from both sides. He tries to run as
the dogs reach him first. He grabs for his sword as dozens
of pole axes pin him against the tunnel's stone wall.
EVEY (V.O.)
Sometimes I wonder where we would
be if he hadn't failed. I wonder
if it would have mattered.
In the dim pre-dawn light, Guy is led to the gallows.
EVEY (V.O.)
I suppose the answer is in the
rhyme. More than the man, what we
must remember is the plot itself.
The coarse noose of rope is snugged up to Guy's throat. He
looks into the crowd until he finds a face, a woman's face,
staring up at him.
EVEY (V.O.)
For in the plot we find more than
just a man, we find the idea of
that man, the spirit of that man,
and that is what we must never
forget.
The lever is thrown and the woman looks down, a tear falling
down her face.
EVEY (V.O.)
This, then, is the story of that
idea, of that spirit that began
with an anarchist's plot four
hundred years ago.
Guy's body hangs in silhouette, lifeless against a red
morning sun.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. SUBURBAN HOUSE
A young Evey sits on her father's lap, combing her Barbie's
hair.
EVEY (V.O.)
I was born near the end of the
millennium, the year 1997. My
father used to say that people were
so afraid that the world was going
to end that they were willing it to
happen.
Her father sits beside her mother on the living room couch,
watching the news. From the look on their faces, the news is
bad.
EVEY (V.O.)
I don't remember much of the
century's turn. I don't remember
the market crash or the plague or
any of the Trafalgar riots.
The television flickers with images of heavily armed soldiers
fighting in a shelled city.
EVEY (V.O.)
I've read about them since but I
don't recall how any of them
impacted my life except for the
fear. They would hide it from me,
like a secret between them.
Little Evey sees her father staring at her mother. They
take hold of each other's hand, clasping them tight.
EVEY (V.O.)
But I could feel it.
EXT. CITY STREET
It is a new day. People are gathered along the street as if
they were waiting for a parade.
EVEY (V.O.)
Of the chaos that seemed to swallow
the beginning of the 21st century,
there is one thing I do remember.
Evey holds her father's hand. Unable to see what is coming,
she can hear it.
EVEY (V.O.)
Very clearly, I can remember that
sound.
We hear them, hundreds of marching soldiers.
EVEY (V.O.)
And I remember those boots, black
leather that gleamed bright in the
morning sun. I had never seen such
boots. All moving in perfect
unison.
Little Evey hides in the forest of adults, clinging to her
father's leg, staring as row after row of boots march by with
military precision.
EXT. CITY STREET
In the midst of a political rally for the emerging new party
calling itself Norsefire, we find little Evey now on her
father's shoulders.
Dascombe, a young man, paces the podium, inciting the crowd.
DASCOMBE
The time has come, London, to
return to a bygone age, an age of
tradition, an age of values that
have been disparaged and all but
forgotten. What this country needs
is a leader! A true leader to
remind us of that age. A righteous
leader with the strength of his
moral convictions to do what must
be done. I give you that man! I
give you our leader! Adam Susan!
Adam Susan rises and the crowd cheers. Evey's father looks
at her mother and again they clasp hands.
EVEY (V.O.)
It must have seemed so easy to
them. They offered such a simple
deal; give up control and we will
restore order.
INT. SUBURBAN HOUSE
Little Evey is asleep in her bedroom.
EVEY (V.O.)
At first, the arrests were
political. Dissidents. Radicals.
Liberals.
A loud crash of splintering wood wakes her up.
EVEY (V.O.)
When my parents were younger, they
had been activists. They had
marched with Labor in the great
train strike.
The sound of heavy boots swarms through the house.
LITTLE EVEY
Mommy?
Her bedroom door bursts open and a heavily armed soldier
scoops her up.
She is carried through the dark house which is filled with
soldiers. On the floor of the living room, she sees her
parents being bound with plastic zip-ties.
MOTHER
My daughter! Don't take my
daughter!
FATHER
Evey! Evey!
LITTLE EVEY
Mommy! Daddy!
A heavy black hood is pulled over each of her parent's heads
as Evey is carried out of the house.
EVEY (V.O.)
I never saw them again. Overnight,
my life, my entire world was
erased.
INT. BATHROOM
A nun with a switch in her crossed arms watches as Evey and
several other little girls scrub the floor of a dormitory
bathroom.
EVEY (V.O.)
It was done so quickly and
violently, so completely, that it
began to seem that it had never
even existed.
A tear rolls down Little Evey's cheek.
EXT. HOUSE
A gay man is dragged violently from his Piccadilly home.
Outside, he sees his lover being forced to the cobblestones.
EVEY (V.O.)
The homosexuals were next. What
God had started with AIDS had to be
finished by man. It was God's
work. That's what we were told.
He reaches for him as the clubs rise and fall, vicious and
bloody.
EVEY (V.O.)
But once they were gone, there was
someone else. Someone different.
In another neighborhood, we see the police arresting
Pakistanis.
EVEY (V.O.)
Someone dangerous.
In a different area, young black men are packed into a caged
van so tightly they are unable to move.
EVEY (V.O.)
There were those who understood
what was happening, who knew it was
wrong but who kept silent.
A young detective named Finch looks down as the van pulls
away. When he looks up, another man in a military uniform
whose name is Almond is watching him.
EVEY (V.O.)
And in the vacuum of that silence,
order was imposed.
Finch sticks his pipe in his mouth and turns away.
EXT. STREET
Again, we see the marching boots.
EVEY (V.O.)
Order that was like those boots,
order that required rigorous
discipline. Order that is exactly
the same, where each single step
falls with every step. The order
of the many shaped into one.
We move through the columns of marching soldiers to a wall
where a poster has been plastered up. The poster reads,
"Strength Through Purity, Purity Through Faith."
EVEY (V.O.)
Somehow in my heart, I knew it
wouldn't last.
As the sound of the marching fades, a shadow falls over the
sign.
After a moment, we hear the hiss of spray paint.
EVEY (V.O.)
What they thought they had crushed,
the spirit they believed trampled
and ground beneath the marching of
their boots, rose up, rose as if
from a four hundred year old grave,
rose to remind us all that day.
The shadow sprays a "V" over the poster.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
Close on a loudspeaker. There is one on every major street
corner.
FATE (V.O.)
Good evening, London. It's nine
o'clock, the fourth of November in
the year 2019 and this is the voice
of Fate broadcasting on 275 and 285
of the medium wave.
Beneath the loudspeaker is a surveillance system labeled,
"For your protection."
Bubble eyed lenses iris at the end of stalks that move,
insect-like, racheting and clicking as they watch a little
girl pedal her bicycle. The little girl glances nervously
over her shoulder up at the mechanical eyes watching her.
FATE (V.O.)
People of London, be advised --
EXT. EVEY'S APARTMENT
There is a radio on a small makeup table.
FATE (V.O.)
-- that Braxton and Streathon are
quarantine zones as of today.
Evey is now a young woman. She slips into a dress that is
little more than a nightgown. She tries to adjust it,
pulling it down at the hem, pulling it up at the thin
shoulder straps, but it is like trying to hide behind a
lamppost.
FATE (V.O.)
It is suggested that these area be
avoided for reasons of health and
safety.
INT. SHADOW GALLERY
Another radio in a room that seems to be of another world.
FATE (V.O.)
Good news following the
productivity reports from
Herefordshire indicating a possible
end to meat rationing starting mid
February.
A man enters the room as he once entered the world. His body
is lean and strong and though we do not see his face, there
is a strength in his carriage, a power to his presence.
INT. EVEY'S APARTMENT
She packs tissue paper into the toes of a pair of high heels
that are too big for her.
FATE (V.O.)
Police raided seventeen homes in
the Birmingham area, uncovering
what is believed to be a major
terrorist ring.
INT. SHADOW GALLERY
We move over a dressing bureau, past a wig and over a pair of
black leather gloves, moving until we find the mask; it is
like something from the masquerade ball of another era. It
has an exaggerated goatee, harlequin cheeks and a smile,
forever fixed, at once be-guiling and be-deviling.
FATE (V.O.)
Twenty eight people, eight of them
women, are currently in detention
awaiting trial.
INT. EVEY'S APARTMENT
Evey coats her lips with a lascivious red. She stares into
the mirror, her makeup like a mask over her own face.
FATE (V.O.)
And that is the face of London
tonight.
INT. SHADOW GALLERY
The man, now fully dressed in cloak, hat, and mask gazes into
the mirror.
This is V.
FATE (V.O.)
And this is the voice of Fate
signing off and bidding you a
pleasant evening.
EXT. CITY STREET
Close on Evey's high heels, stumbling and awkward as she
walks down a dark cobblestoned street.
EXT. CITY STREET
Close on V's boots walking in the opposite direction so that
it seems they are walking towards each other.
EVEY (V.O.)
I don't know what brought us
together that night. I had never
been to that part of Westminster
but ever since I've known him, I've
stopped believing in coincidence.
EXT. CITY STREET
Evey looks up and sees a man standing mostly in shadow.
EVEY
Excuse me? Uh... excuse me,
Mister?
The man turns around. It is not V.
EVEY
Would you like... uh, would you
like to sleep with me?
He smiles.
EVEY
I mean, for money.
MAN
That is the clumsiest bit of
propositioning I've ever heard.
EVEY
Oh god, I'm sorry.
MAN
Is this your first time, darling?
EVEY
Yes, no, I mean for money. But I
know what you want and I'll do it.
She presses her body to his, using her little girl eyes and
her woman's mouth.
EVEY
Anything you want, mister. Please,
I need the money. I know I'm young
but I promise I know what I'm
doing.
MAN
No. You don't know what you're
doing.
He pulls out his wallet and shows her a badge. The sight of
it knocks the breath out of her.
EVEY
Christ, you're a Fingerman.
FINGERMAN 1
Give the little lady a prize.
FINGERMAN 2
I've got something to give her.
Evey turns and there are more Fingermen behind her.
FINGERMAN 1
Prostitution is a class H offense.
Know what that means? It means
that we get to exercise our own
judicial discretion --
FINGERMAN 2
And you get to swallow it.
The Fingermen laugh.
EVEY
Oh god, please. It's my first
time. Please don't hurt me.
FINGERMAN 1
Gosh, fellas, look at those big
innocent eyes. What do you think?
FINGERMAN 3
Spare the rod, spoil the child.
Fingerman 2 laughs hard as he drops his pants.
EVEY
Oh no!
He shoves her face first against a brick wall, lifting her
dress to expose her bottom.
EVEY
Please, don't!
FINGERMAN 3
You heard the man, sweetie. This
rod's for your own good.
Suddenly, they are no longer alone.
V
"The multiplying villainies of
nature do swarm upon him."
FINGERMAN 3
What the hell --
V
"And fortune, on his damned
quarrel, smiling, showed like a
rebel's whore."
FINGERMAN 1
We're police officers, pal.
FINGERMAN 4
We're with the Finger.
FINGERMAN 3
So bugger off!
V
"Disdaining fortune with his
brandished steel, which smoked with
bloody execution."
In the clenched fist of black leather, we see a flash of
steel.
FINGERMAN 1
He's got a knife!
V attacks and at once we know this is no normal human being.
A single blow sends the largest of the Fingermen flying
backwards.
But more than his strength, it is his speed.
A gun is cocked but before the hammer falls, a knife is
buried in the Fingerman's chest and --
Before the body falls, the knife is gone.
It takes a handful of seconds and three bodies lay on the
ground. V turns to the last Fingerman who is struggling to
pull his pants up.
FINGERMAN 3
Jesus Christ! Don't hurt me!
V steps forward and he screams, bolting while holding his
pants up.
V
Good evening.
EVEY
Who -- Who are you?
V
Me? I imagine all manner of names
shall be heaped upon my humble
visage but, for now, let us simply
say I am the villain.
He throws wide his cloak and bows deeply to her.
V
And you would be?
EVEY
Evey.
V
Of course.
They hear sirens rushing towards them. In a blink, he scoops
her up and dashes into the shadows of a narrow alleyway.
EXT. ROOFTOPS
Police cars and several ambulances swarm over the area with
the dead Fingermen.
V watches them from above.
EVEY
Why did you do that? Why did
you... help me?
V
Why indeed?
He takes out an old antique pocket watch. It is almost
midnight.
V
Almost time.
EVEY
For what?
V
For the music.
EVEY
Music?
V
Yes, music. My music. You see.
Evey, I am a performer.
EVEY
Is that why you're wearing a mask?
V
We all wear masks. Life creates
them and forces us to find the one
that fits. Do you know what day it
is?
EVEY
Uh... November fourth.
V
Not for long.
He looks out where, rising above the rooftops, he can see Big
Ben.
V
"Remember, remember, the fifth of
November, the gunpowder treason and
plot. I know of no reason why the
gunpowder treason should ever be
forgot."
The second hand sweeps into the final minute.
V
Tell me, Evey, what good is an
actor that plays his part to an
empty theatre?
EVEY
I don't know.
V
Nor do I. That's why you are here.
I need you, Evey. I need someone
to listen.
EVEY
To your music?
V
Yes. Yes, to my music.
From his sleeve, he pulls a conductor's wand.
V
Can you hear it? It's already
begun.
He begins to lightly tap the wand in the air and, very
faintly, we hear it.
EVEY
I can't hear anything.
V
At first, you have to listen very
carefully...
He continues to conduct and we begin to hear the music,
violins and horns that seem almost like a whisper or a wind
that steadily swells.
V
Ahh, yes. There it is. Beautiful,
is it not?
He turns to the parapet, his gestures growing grander as the
music rises and we recognize Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture.
The music mounts a climax and V points the wand at Big Ben as
cymbals crash --
Big Ben explodes with such force the world seems to shake,
while --
V, smiling, always smiling, points again with another
crescendo and --
The statue of justice is blown to smithereens.
V nods in appreciation while mustering the music towards it's
finale as fireworks begin lighting up the sky.
EVEY
Oh my...
Everywhere across the city, people stand transfixed by the
dazzling shimmer of the fireworks until --
A strobing final blitz leaves a single, starry image floating
in the smoke filled sky.
It is the letter V.
EVEY
It's beautiful...
V
Thank you.
From every direction, the city screams with the panicked
sound of sirens.
EXT. NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDING
A massive modern building that is the seat of the new
government.
A long, black car pulls up to the entrance. Adam Susan gets
out, wearing a long black trenchcoat over his pajamas. He is
the Leader and he looks older, heavier, and meaner.
He hurries past the heavily armed guards, barely
acknowledging the snap and cock of their Nazi-like salute.
INT. LEADER'S OFFICE
The Leader enters his main chambers and we see the Fate
computer system.
It is a cerebral cortex for a vast intelligence network.
Information can almost be felt coursing through its hard
drives.
The Leader sits, at once regaining a measure of composure.
He takes a deep calming breath and accesses the system.
Dozens of monitors fill with images from all across the city,
most of them are of the damage caused by V.
LEADER
Gentlemen, I will hear your reports
now. Mr. Heyer, speak for the Eye.
Conrad Heyer appears on one of the screens. He is at his
desk inside the command center for the Eye, the governmental
organization responsible for the visual surveillance systems.
CONRAD
We have less than two minutes of
usable footage, Leader. It took
the suspect less than a minute to
dispatch the Finger's vice patrol.
On an insert screen, we see grainy footage of V rescuing Evey
from one of the pole-mounted cameras.
CONRAD
As you can see, the suspect's
reflex speed is extraordinary. As
is his strength.
As the last body falls, V seems to pause and looks back over
his shoulder straight into the camera.
LEADER
Freeze it!
The Leader stares at the smiling face.
CONRAD
I'm afraid the mask makes retinal
identification impossible.
LEADER
Mr. Etheridge, report for the Ear!
Bunny Etheridge appears on another screen. Behind him, huge
spooling reels of audiotape wind constantly.
ETHERIDGE
We were able to triangulate the
origin of the fireworks. We also
are currently monitoring a lot of
phone surveillance indicating a
high percentage of conversation
concerned with the explosions. All
suspect or significant transcripts
are being forwarded to Mr. Almond.
LEADER
Very good. Mr. Finch, speak for
the Nose.
Finch, no longer the same young man, stands at the site of
the fireworks launch.
FINCH
Thanks to Etheridge, we found the
launch for the fireworks. These
appear to be individually weighted
flares and we have found traces of
the same chemicals at both of the
detonation sites which leads us to
conclude that, despite a level of
sophistication, these devices are
all home-made with over the counter
chemicals, making them impossible
to trace. Whoever he is, Leader,
he's good.
LEADER
Thank you for that professional
annotation.
An intercom opens.
LIEUTENANT (V.O.)
Leader, Mr. Almond has arrived.
LEADER
Very good. Gentlemen, keep me
informed of any further
developments. England prevails.
They answer in unison as Almond enters the office. His face
is harder but he has the same violent gleam in his eye.
The Leader turns in his chair.
LEADER
Mr. Almond, do you know what this
is behind me?
ALMOND
Uh... the Fate computer system,
sir?
LEADER
No. No sir. It's more than that.
This, this computer is a symbol,
Mr. Almond. A symbol of the
highest attainable goal of mankind.
Do you know what that goal is, Mr.
Almond?
Almond does not. The Leader leaps from his chair while
pounding the desk.
LEADER
Control, Mr. Almond! Control! The
world around us is a changing,
directionless, amoral morass and it
is up to man and man alone to set
things right!
He moves around the desk at Almond.
LEADER
Without control, man is nothing
more than any other stinking,
sweating, brute animal. Control,
Mr. Almond. The control that we
have painstakingly built up over
the last ten years. Now, do you
understand what happened last
night?
ALMOND
We... lost control.
LEADER
Yes, Mr. Almond. Last night
someone did the unthinkable.
Someone hurt us. It is imperative
that we act swiftly and precisely.
I want that man found, Mr. Almond.
I want his head or, by god, I'll
have yours.
INT. SHADOW GALLERY
Evey is wearing a blindfold and V leads her by her
fingertips, guiding her almost as if they were dancing...
His fingers slip free of her and she reaches out.
EVEY
Wait. I've lost you.
V
No, you haven't.
He is behind her and he removes the blindfold, revealing his
house to her.
EVEY
Oh...
It is a labyrinth of interconnecting underground tunnels and
rooms.
The gallery is the main room as it is filled with an amazing
collection of human culture. There is art that spans from
the renaissance to the painted covers of Eerie comics,
literature that ranges from Shakespeare to Spillane,
philosophy from Plato to Bukowski, and a vast collection of
nonfiction.
There are movie posters everywhere and an entire wall is
lined with videocassettes.
A jukebox stands in front of an enormous vinyl and CD
collection of music.
EVEY
A jukebox? Where did you get it?
V
I saved it. Like everything here.
She punches a button and Billie Holiday begins to sing.
EVEY
Oh, it's beautiful. I've never
heard anything like it.
V
Of course not. You grew up in
their world. Art is created by
individuals and there are no
individuals in a world where you
are told what to think.
EVEY
This place is amazing.
V
You're welcome to stay.
She stops suddenly and looks at him. The offer is terribly
exciting but it is so unlike anything she has ever done that
it's almost impossible to imagine.
EVEY
Stay here... with you?
V
Yes. If you like.
EVEY
I... I don't even know your name.
V
I don't have a name. But you can
call me V.
EVEY
V? V... I like that.
And she returns his smile.
EXT. JORDAN TOWER
The only operating broadcast tower in London; home of the
Mouth.
INT. RADIO BROADCAST BOOTH
Lewis Prothero leans forward and lets his voice pour like
syrup over the microphone.
PROTHERO
Good morning, London. This is the
voice of Fate -- Damn.
He stops and coughs.
PROTHERO
Good morning -- ack. Good morning
Lond-- Goddammit! Where is my
bloody tea?!
In the control booth, Roger Dascombe, his hair thinner now,
rubs his temple.
DASCOMBE
Would someone get his lordship his
bloody tea?
He clicks on the microphone.
DASCOMBE
Lewis, they want this report on the
first hour --
PROTHERO
I know. I know. Damned
inconvenient this entire affair.
Fine. Let's try again.
He clears his voice and the red "record" light turns on.
PROTHERO
Good morning, London. It is 6 am,
the fifth of November 2019 and this
is the voice of Fate. The new day
brings good news and bright
prospects from overseas, where
negotiations with New China are
moving in a positive direction.
Last night's scheduled demolition
of two deteriorating landmarks went
off without a hitch.
Dascombe is unable to stop himself from smiling.
PROTHERO
Spokesman for the Interior ministry
said both structures were severely
damaged and judged to be a danger
to the unsuspecting public. Plans
for new landmarks are well
underway.
Prothero sits back, shaking his head.
PROTHERO
Do you believe this crap, Dascombe?
DASCOMBE
It's not our job to believe it,
Lewis. Our job is to tell the
people --
PROTHERO
"Exactly what they tell us." I
Know but do you think that people
will believe it?
DASCOMBE
They will if it's you that's
telling it to them. Now let's try
it again.
INT. SHADOW GALLERY
V is alone, listening to the first morning broadcast.
PROTHERO (V.O.)
... plans for new landmarks are
already well underway.
He clicks off the radio. Walking down a hall, he stops and
peers into Evey's new bedroom.
She is fast asleep, looking remarkably at peace. Quietly, he
shuts the door.
EXT. TRAIN STATION
People are hurrying to board a departing train.
INT. TRAIN CAR
Prothero is staring out his window.
PROTHERO
"Remember, remember, the fifth of
November..."
He talks to his bodyguards almost as if talking to himself.
PROTHERO
Do you suppose that's why he did
it?
BODYGUARD 1
Sir, who did what, sir?
PROTHERO
Guy Fawkes. He tried to blow up
Parliament.
The guards look at each other, confused.
PROTHERO
Don't they teach history in school
anymore?
BODYGUARD 1
Sir, we're both straight military,
sir.
BODYGUARD 2
Sir, yes, sir. I was fighting in
Ireland by the time I was sixteen.
PROTHERO
Yes, of course. My mistake.
He turns back to his window.
EXT. RAILROAD
The train rumbles along, heading for a tunnel.
INT. TRAIN CAR
Prothero watches the countryside rolling past.
PROTHERO
I love trains. I remember riding
the underground with my father.
Shame they shut them all down.
Bodyguard 1 looks out the opposite window just as the train
enters the tunnel.
BODYGUARD 1
What the hell's that!
EXT. TRAIN
For a flashing instant, we see V in silhouette, cloak
swirling around him like dark wings as he jumps from the
bridge onto the train.
INT. TRAIN CAR
Prothero and Bodyguard 2 stare at Bodyguard 1.
BODYGUARD 1
I thought I saw a man jumping onto
the train.
BODYGUARD 2
The train's doing almost seventy.
It would break his legs.
BODYGUARD 1
You're right, I... It must have
been rags.
EXT. TRAIN
Deep in the tunnel, a dark figure glides across the rooftops.
INT. CONDUCTOR'S CAB
The conductor hears something on the roof. He peers up just
as V swings down, smashing feet first into the cab.
INT. TRAIN CAR
The brakes suddenly lock, throwing Bodyguard 2 into Prothero.
PROTHERO
Get off of me!
A moment later, the lights are cut off and the entire train
is plunged into complete darkness.
BODYGUARD 2
What the fuck is going on?
BODYGUARD 1
Lock the car doors.
PROTHERO
I have a lighter... somewhere...
BODYGUARD 2
I can't find the lock -- wait. Hey
wha--
There is a muffled shriek followed by a sharp snap.
BODYGUARD 1
What's happening --
There is another sound, like the leather slap of a boxer
pounding a heavy bag, followed by the sound of the heavy bag
collapsing onto the floor.
PROTHERO
I found it!
He flicks on the lighter and, in the dim light of its flame,
he sees the smiling face.
PROTHERO
Oh god.
V sits casually, arms folded, across from Prothero. The
bodyguards lay dead on the floor.
PROTHERO
Who are you? What do you want?
Money? Is that it?
V just smiles.
PROTHERO
Wait, wait. You're, you're the one
that blew the Bailey.
V nods and Prothero's eyes go wide.
PROTHERO
You're making a mistake. I'm
nobody --
On the floor, he sees the bodyguard's gun. He kills the
lighter and dives for it.
In the darkness, we hear the struggle. It ends quickly.
When the lighter flicks back on, V is holding it and the gun.
PROTHERO
Oh god, what do you want?
V
I've come to offer you a choice.
Commander Prothero.
PROTHERO
What -- What did you call me?
V
Commander Prothero.
Prothero's heart begins to pound.
V
That was your title at Larkhill.
You remember Larkhill, don't you,
Commander?
EXT. LARKHILL RESETTLEMENT CAMP - FLASHBACK
A sign reads, "Larkhill Resettlement Camp."
V (V.O.)
Where they sent the undesirables.
A caged truck packed with minorities rolls into the gates
which are topped with spools of razor wire.
INT. TRAIN CAR
Prothero is sweating.
PROTHERO
I don't know what you're talking
about.
V
Maybe I can help your memory.
Let's see. Larkhill opened in the
summer of 2009. You were appointed
it commander. You wore a uniform
in those days. You looked very
good in it.
INT. LARKHILL - PROTHERO'S OFFICE - FLASHBACK
Prothero admires his uniform in the mirror.
V (V.O.)
You were a man of many
responsibilities. You made sure
Larkhill made all its quotas,
especially the oven quotas even
though they required an excessive
amount of maintenance.
EXT. LARKHILL OVENS - FLASHBACK
We see a detail of black and Indian men, shoveling mounds of
black ash from a series of furnace like ovens.
As the shovels lift, we see blackened bones and burnt skulls.
EXT. LARKHILL MAIN YARD - FLASHBACK
Prothero saunters through the lines of camp prisoners.
V (V.O.)
But there was one task you took to
with exceptional relish. Remember
the medical block, Commander? I
believe you called it the funny
farm. You were the one that
selected the prisoners. You hand
picked each one.
Prothero steps in front of a woman who remains beautiful
despite the suffering she has endured. Prothero smiles.
PROTHERO
Her.
As the guards grab her, we become aware of a man that is
staring at Prothero. He is one of the prisoners but we do
not see his face.
Prothero notices the man. He doesn't like the way the man is
staring at him.
PROTHERO
You.
INT. TRAIN CAR
Prothero is terrified.
PROTHERO
You! You're him, aren't you?
V nods.
PROTHERO
Oh my god! What are you going to
do?
V
You gave us a choice, remember,
Commander? You said we could
cooperate with the doctors or...
V cocks the gun.
V
Hold out your hand.
Trembling, Prothero sticks out his hand. V lets the light
die for a moment.
When he flicks it back on, Prothero is holding a long, metal
syringe filled with a murky liquid.
PROTHERO
Oh no, no! Please I was just doing
what I was told!
V
Of course you were. Now I'm
telling you to make a choice.
Either you stick that syringe into
your neck or --
He presses the gun barrel to Prothero's forehead.
V
I can kill you right now.
Prothero begins to blubber.
V
Crying doesn't help, Commander. I
remember there was a woman who had
been screaming for two days. You
winked at the doctor and laughed,
"All in the name of science."
PROTHERO
Please, don't make me do this...
V
It's a difficult choice, isn't it?
Certain death versus something that
might be... worse. But you never
know. There is still a chance.
You could survive. Look at me.
Now, time's up, Commander. Choose.
Anger galvanizes his fear and steadily Prothero lifts the
needle towards his neck.
PROTHERO
I'll see you in hell.
He jams the needle in and sinks the plunger.
V
Yes. I'm quite sure you will.
INT. TRAIN
Train workers with flashlights hurry through the cars.
TRAIN MAN
This door's locked!
He slams a shoulder against it and the door gives in.
TRAIN MAN
Holy Christ!
Flashlights sweep over the dead bodyguards. The train man
hears a strange gurgling rasp and he turns, finding Prothero
in his light.
TRAIN MAN
What happened here?
Prothero is foaming at the mouth while a thick mucus bubbles
from his nose. His breath comes in tiny rasps.
TRAIN MAN
Good lord! I need a medic here.
Prothero becomes more animate, trying to tell the man
something.
PROTHERO
Fi... Fi... Fi...
TRAIN MAN 2
He's trying to say something.
PROTHERO
Five.
TRAIN MAN 1
Five? Where's the goddamn medic?
PROTHERO
Room five.
Suddenly, his body convulses and blood pours out his ears.
His body slumps over.
TRAIN MAN 2
I think he needs a priest.
EXT. TRAIN STATION
The station is swarming with police. A stretcher wheels a
body in a black plastic bag out from Prothero's car.
INT. TRAIN CAR
Finch puffs on his pipe, staring at something spray painted
on the wall of the train car: a "V" with a circle around it.
DOMINIC
What do you make of this, Mr.
Finch?
Dominic, Finch's younger assistant, is holding a flower in
his rubber gloved hand.
FINCH
Hmm. It's a rose. A violet
carson, I believe. Strange.
DOMINIC
Strange?
FINCH
I didn't think they still existed.
SOLDIER
Mr. Finch! Sir!
Finch turns as a soldier with a radio steps into the car.
SOLDIER
Sir, they want you at headquarters,
sir.
FINCH
Now?
SOLDIER
Yes, sir. I'm to transport you
immediately.
FINCH
Send the rose to the lab. Also,
scrape a sample of this paint and
have it analyzed as well. I'll be
back as soon as I can.
INT. LEADER'S OFFICE
The door opens and Finch steps in.
LEADER
Ah, Mr. Finch. I sent for you
because what I have to say cannot
be said over a phone or a radio.
What I have to say cannot leave
these four walls. Do I make myself
clear?
FINCH
Yes, sir.
LEADER
I believe in a few things, Mr.
Finch. I believe in god. I
believe in the destiny of the
Nordic race. And I believe in
fascism. The romans invented
fascism. They had a symbol for it;
a bundle of twigs bound together.
One twig could be broken but a
bundle would prevail. That is the
heart and soul of fascism.
Strength in unity. I tell you
these things knowing full well that
they make you uncomfortable.
FINCH
Well, I...
LEADER
You have in fact expressed your
discomfort in several arrest
reports, arrests that were, in your
opinion, "unnecessary." The fact
that you are here, that you are not
rotting in a prison cell, is a mark
of my respect and admiration for
you, for your craft, and for what
you have done for this country.
Finch looks at the ground.
LEADER
It is also because I know you,
Finch. I know what you are.
You're a man like me. A man who
understands when they are given a
job what must be done. I
understand you, Finch, and that is
why I can trust you.
He moves in close to Finch.
LEADER
This terrorist knows us, Finch.
These attacks are perfectly
calculated and they are divisive.
He knows what he's doing, Finch.
He knows us all too well.
FINCH
You think he's an insider?
LEADER
What I think is that this man must
be stopped. Stopped at all costs
and no one, I repeat, no one is to
be placed above suspicion. Do I
make myself clear?
FINCH
Perfectly.
LEADER
England prevails, Mr. Finch.
FINCH
England prevails.
INT. SHADOW GALLERY
Evey, alone in the Shadow Gallery, stares up at the
inscription above the crooked staircase.
EVEY
V, v, v, v, v.
V
I hear your summons, my lady. And
obey.
She jumps, V suddenly appearing behind her.
EVEY
Oh, V, you scared me.
She turns back to the carving.
EVEY
I was reading the inscription.
What is it?
V
A Latin quotation. A motto. "Vi
veri veniversum vivus vici." "By
the power of truth, I, while
living, have conquered the
universe."
She nods.
EVEY
Yes, I suppose you have. This
place is the only universe I have
right now.
V
Does that bother you?
EVEY
I don't know. I'm so grateful to
you -- I just feel I should help
you, you know, the way you're
helping me. I mean, that's the
deal, isn't it?
V drifts over to the big old Wurlitzer, fingers scanning the
song list.
V
No deals, Evey. Not unless you
want them.
She looks up at the inscription as an old blues song begins
to play.
EVEY
I think I do. Part of me wants to
stay here forever and never have to
face what's going on outside. But
that's not right. Is it? That's
not taking responsibility. Not
conquering my universe.
She turns to him.
EVEY
I want to help you, V. I want to
do something. Can we make a deal?
V
Yes. I think we can make a deal if
you like. I think I know a way you
could help me very soon indeed.
Evey smiles nervously.
EVEY
Good. That's that, then.
The blues song curls in the air around them like a heavy
incense.
EVEY
V, you said that Latin thing was a
quote. Who said it?
V
Nobody you'd have heard of. A
German gentleman named Dr. John
Faust.
He spins her.
V
He made a deal too.
EXT. WESTMINSTER ABBEY - DAY
The church doors have opened with the flow of parishioners as
the final mass of the day has ended.
The tide slowly pours out onto the sidewalk, separating
around the clumps of people that conglomerate to network and
gossip.
Church bells toll in the orange dusk above them.
Helen Heyer, a woman whose spite and guile are hidden behind
her looks and clothes she drapes them with, charges into the
gossipers, her trophy husband in tow, a timid looking man
that we recognize as Conrad Heyer.
CONRAD
Hello, Rosemary. Derek, how --
Helen's head snaps over at the mention of the name.
HELEN
Derek!
She pushes past Conrad, giving Derek Almond an exuberant kiss
on both cheeks.
HELEN
Darling, how are you? Hello,
Rosemary.
Always behind her husband, Rosemary Almond smiles nervously
as she straightens her drab church dress.
ROSEMARY
Hello.
DEREK
It's so good to see you. Since
this bloody terrorist business, the
old man has me literally chained to
the office.
Helen pouts at him.
HELEN
Oh, you poor dear.
Derek taps the bottom of his cigarette box, drawing one with
his lips.
DEREK
It comes with the job. How are
things in the Eye, Conrad?
CONRAD
Well, we've been working some bugs
out of the new Mark IX fiber optic
network, actually --
HELEN
Oh, Conrad, don't be such a bloody
bore. Do tell us about the
terrorist, Derek. Is it true he
blew up Big Ben and the old Bailey?
DEREK
I'm afraid so. We're dealing with
a pathological psychotic in the
most extreme case. We'll catch him
though. I promise.
Helen rubs her white sable against her body.
HELEN
Oh, it sounds dreadfully exciting.
Aren't you glad you've got such a
ruthless, implacable brute for a
husband, Rosemary?
ROSEMARY
Yes, well --
HELEN
Believe me, you're lucky. You
could be struck with a professional
peeping tom like Conrad. England's
highest paid voyeur, aren't you
darling?
CONRAD
Helen, I think we'd better --
HELEN
Oh yes, of course. We have to get
back so the little pervert can
watch what the neighbors do after
Sunday lunch. He's so exciting.
Derek laughs as they climb into their car.
HELEN
Ciao!
DEREK
Goodbye, Helen. Conrad.
Rosemary waves as it pulls off.
ROSEMARY
She's a bit hard on him, isn't she?
Derek sneers at her.
DEREK
Until you're half the woman of
Helen's sophistication, I'd keep
your little mouth shut.
He throws the cigarette at her feet.
DEREK
Really, just look at the way you
dress.
INT. WESTMINSTER ABBEY
From above, a hand sweeps aside the red plush curtain.
LILLIMAN
Ah, there they go. My happy and
contented flock. Spiritually
refreshed and ready to face the
world again.
Bishop Anthony Lilliman is a slender man of pious elegance
with a warm, beautiful smile.
He turns from the window to his valet, Dennis, as Derek and
Rosemary get in their car.
LILLIMAN
Did you enjoy the sermon today,
Dennis?
DENNIS
Very inspiring, your grace. Though
the segue of the forces of Satan
among us did strike me as a bit of
a curious digression.
He whisks a lint brush over the Bishop's robes before putting
them away.
LILLIMAN
Hmm, yes. A trifle purple, I
thought. Still, Fate wanted it
included and who are we to question
the will of the almighty, miserable
sinners that we are?
A gentle smile spreads across his mouth.
LILLIMAN
And speaking of sin, I wonder which
of the seven deadlies the good lord
will see fit to tempt me with
today.
Dennis finishes with the Bishop's robes and sweeps the closet
door shut.
DENNIS
Perhaps pride, your grace.
Lilliman chuckles.
LILLIMAN
I was thinking of something a
little less ethereal. Has the
young lady arrived?
DENNIS
The agency informed me she'll be
here directly. However, there was
a mixup. It's not one of the usual
girls. She's a little older.
LILLIMAN
Oh dear. Oh dear. Not too old, I
trust?
DENNIS
They promise me she's no more than
fifteen.
LILLIMAN
Fifteen, hmm.
The Bishop rubs his cheek, ponderously.
LILLIMAN
Ah well, if Job could bear his
disappointments, I suppose I must
have the good grace to bear mine.
Show her in when she arrives.
DENNIS
Yes, your grace.
EXT. WESTMINSTER ABBEY - NIGHT
A pair of headlights melt through the heavy night's fog as a
taxicab pulls into the circle drive.
INT. BISHOP'S QUARTERS
Dennis peers into the Bishop's living quarters.
DENNIS
The young lady, your grace.
LILLIMAN
Oh my!
Standing next to Dennis is Evey, wearing a frilly pink summer
dress, pigtails and bows and white ruffled socks.
LILLIMAN
And to think I doubted your
loveliness for even an instant.
Mea culpa, my child, mea culpa.
You are a vision. An angel.
Evey smiles awkwardly.
EVEY
Uh... thank you.
EXT. WESTMINSTER ABBEY - NIGHT
A shadow begins moving across the manicured grounds borne on
the thick mist like a dark phantom. V glides toward the
rectory, cloak undulating against the dark, wet wind.
INT. BISHOP'S BEDROOM
It is extravagantly furnished, somewhere between posh and
pimp. The Bishop is sitting very close to Evey on his plush
water bed.
LILLIMAN
Of course, "hate the sin, love the
sinner." I always say. Take your
dress off, please.
Evey stammers, backing up along the bedside.
EVEY
Listen -- I was kind of hoping --
He paws at her, groping hands pushing the front of her dress
down as she backs up against the nightstand.
EVEY
No --
EXT. MAIN GATE - NIGHT
The guards look out into the night, fear suddenly gripping
their faces.
V emerges demonically through the parting veils of fog, the
white smiling mask bobbing eerily up and down as he rushes
them.
A cigarette drops from the first guard's mouth, red embers
exploding when it hits the wet cement.
Close as the two guards claw for their arms and the white hot
flash of V's knives --
That slice like talons.
The two men crumple to the ground, clutching their gaping,
gurgling wounds. A whisper. V sprints into the courtyard.
INT. BISHOP'S BEDROOM
Evey grabs a metal table lamp and swings it down on the
Bishop's head. There is a shuddering clank and he collapses
to the floor.
LILLIMAN
You -- You filthy whore!
His blood speckles the white bearskin throw rug as the Bishop
slowly rises after the retreating Evey.
LILLIMAN
I'll kill you, you fucking sow.
He charges after her but freezes dead in his tracks as V
swings around the corner in front of him.
LILLIMAN
What's this? Who --
V
Please allow me to introduce
myself...
V bows.
V
I'm a man of wealth and taste.
LILLIMAN
Dennis?
Instantly, the point of one of V's knives is against the
Bishop's throat. V presses a finger to his frozen smile.
V
Shh. It isn't polite to disturb
the dead on their journey.
Evey watches from around the corner.
V
A courtesy I'll most respectfully
extend to his grace.
EVEY
V?
Lilliman swallows audibly.
EVEY
V, what are you doing?
V
Vi veri veniversum vivus vici,
Evey.
Evey looks down at the knives on his belt, dripping blood.
EVEY
Oh no.
She begins backing to the door.
EVEY
You can't kill him!
V
Death has followed his grace the
whole of his career. Is it any
coincidence it has finally followed
him here?
EVEY
Oh god, V. I can't -- I can't --
V turns back to Lilliman as Evey runs.
V
Let us pray.
EXT. WESTMINSTER ABBEY - NIGHT
Evey sprints past the dead guards at the man gate and into
the fog.
INT. THE EAR
A cramped control room that looks like something between a
radio and television switching room, though it does not
broadcast. It receives.
Two operators sit at the main substation as the sounds of
lovemaking come over the speakers. The moans are stifled and
low, however, as if they were afraid someone was listening.
OPERATOR 1
Bloody hell. Doesn't anybody fuck
with feeling anymore?
Operator 2 does not look at him, scrolling through an
intricate city map on his computer.
OPERATOR 2
Hey, it's Sunday. Children's hour
over at the Abbey.
OPERATOR 1
Let's see what that filthy old
pervert is up to.
Operator 1 punches in some coordinates and the sound over the
speakers changes to a garbled fart of noise. Two voices
drown beneath a cacophony of classical music.
OPERATOR 1
What the --
He tries to dial out the background and suddenly the voices
rise clearly above the din.
VOICE 1
... And I saw a black shape against
the flames. Oh god. It's you.
The man from room five. You've
come --
VOICE 2
To collect what's mine.
VOICE 1
I beg you! I don't want to die!
Please have mercy!
The two men look at each other, Operator 1 lunging for a red
phone.
OPERATOR 1
Get me the Finger. This is an
emergency!
EXT. BISHOP'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Close on a stain of white vomit and blood on the thick pile
of a Persian rug. It is encircled in police chalk.
Pull back to reveal the chalk outline where the body of
Bishop Lilliman was found. The circled bloodstain floats
above the head like the last word balloon of a crude comic
strip character.
The Bishop's quarters is slowly being picked over by a
forensic team from the Nose. A photographer's flash bursts
against a painted "V" on the wall near the body outline.
At the window, Finch chews on his pipe, staring at a plastic
evidence bag that contains a single violet carson rose.
DOMINIC
No prints yet, sir. Just like
Prothero.
FINCH
I want those tapes from the Ear in
my office tonight, Dominic.
DOMINIC
Yes, sir. They're on top of it.
Finch turns to a muscular man named Creedy, second in command
at the Finger.
FINCH
Any word from your superior, Mr.
Creedy?
CREEDY
Mr. Almond doesn't seem to be
answering his page, sir. I'm sure
he's in the field.
FINCH
Quite.
INT. CONRAD HEYER'S BEDROOM
Grunting like an animal, Derek's face is frozen, locked in
the rigor of a violent orgasm. After a moment, he collapses
beside Helen onto the sweat soaked sheets.
HELEN
There you go, baby. Now my baby
boy can think so much clearer.
Can't he?
She grabs her cigarette case and her lighter.
HELEN
You have been thinking, haven't
you?
She straddles his chest then lights two cigarettes.
HELEN
I know you have. Ever since this
terrorist appeared.
He smiles as she puts one of the cigarettes in his mouth.
HELEN
Oh jesus, that smile. That smile
turns me on like nothing else.
She whispers in his ear.
HELEN
Tell me. Tell me what's going on
in that ruthless sadistic brain of
yours.
DEREK
Everyone is so worried about the
terrorist. Especially Susan. You
know why? Because nobody knows
what he's going to do.
He exhales through his grinding teeth.
DEREK
If I were him, I know what I'd do.
He whispers.
DEREK
I'd blow that fat bastard to
kingdom come.
Helen bolts up.
HELEN
No. You're kidding.
DEREK
Am I?
He smiles, blowing more smoke.
DEREK
There's an old train line under the
New Government Building. It
collapsed when they poured the
foundation. You could haul in
enough TNT to launch our Leader's
ass all the way to the moon.
Helen's eyes gleam as he laughs.
HELEN
You're serious, aren't you?
He eyes her sucking on the cigarette.
DEREK
You need to be careful, Helen.
Your mouth is going to get you into
trouble one day.
HELEN
Is that the same trouble you love
putting in my mouth?
DEREK
You never know who might be
listening.
HELEN
I know, Derek. You love your
country and you love your party,
just like you love your wife.
He glares at her.
HELEN
Derek. I'm sorry. I know I can be
a bitch. But that's why you're
here, isn't it?
He smiles again and she presses her body to his.
HELEN
This is it, isn't it, Derek? What
we've been waiting for. At last,
you'll be rid of Susan. I'll be
rid of Conrad. And we'll be free.
Free, won't we?
His eyes close as he grinds his hips into hers and we rise,
drifting up to the ceiling light fixture --
Where we see a tiny hidden microphone.
INT. FINCH'S OFFICE - THE NOSE
Finch sits at his desk, staring into the silence of his
notepad. He has doodled a little "V" with a circle around
it.
He looks up as Dominic enters, holding up a portable cassette
player.
DOMINIC
Sorry it took so long. The boys
had a devil of a time trying to
filter out the background noise.
FINCH
Background noise?
DOMINIC
The perpetrator apparently turned
on the Bishop's stereo.
Subsequently, a great deal of the
tape is useless.
He hands the player to Finch.
FINCH
What music did he play?
DOMINIC
Beethoven. The fifth, I believe.
Finch smiles.
FINCH
Da, da, da, dum. That's code.
Morse code.
DOMINIC
Sir?
FINCH
For the letter "V".
Finch punches "play".
Over the small speaker, we sear Evey protesting to V, then
run. He stops it.
FINCH
Anything on the girl yet?
DOMINIC
No. The agency said somebody
claiming to be Lilliman's valet
canceled his Sunday appointment.
Finch starts it again and this time the tape is very fuzzy.
FINCH
What is it?
DOMINIC
23rd Psalm.
We recognize some of the words though muted and crackly.
TAPE (V.O.)
Though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death...
DOMINIC
It goes on like that for a while.
Fairly incoherent except we could
make out a few words in this part.
Transubstantiation.
Finch nods, understanding.
DOMINIC
That miracle business when the
wafer transform into the body of
Christ.
FINCH
He made him eat a host.
DOMINIC
Yes, listen to this part.
The tape becomes somewhat clearer as the music rests.
TAPE (V.O.)
... And at the moment this enters
your mouth it becomes the flesh of
the savior? Yes... please... And
whatever it is made of now it will
become the body of Christ? Yes...
yes...
They eye each other.
TAPE (V.O.)
I want you to swallow it.
DOMINIC
There's a couple of funny human
noises...
FINCH
And then just Beethoven's fifth.
He shuts off the tape.
FINCH
We have got the initial path report
back. The host was full of
cyanide.
Finch picks up the bag with the violet carson.
FINCH
And do you know what?
He rises, sliding into his jacket.
FINCH
When it reached his abdomen, it was
still cyanide.
INT. MORGUE
Close on the heavy stitching of a "Y" incision sewn into the
chest of a corpse. It is one of the Bishop's guards.
DELIA
Do you have a motive?
Finch is standing next to the cadaver gurney with the
coroner, Delia Surridge. She is a serious woman, hair wound
tight behind her head in a severe bun.
DELIA
I mean, was anything taken?
She fills the dead man's head with cotton and replaces the
top of his skull.
FINCH
Just lives.
Pulling at the man's scalp, she stretches it over the
replaced skull piece.
FINCH
I know it's too early for your
profile but do you have any initial
impressions?
DELIA
Well...
She points at a jagged puncture wound at the base of the
man's sternum with a ball point pen.
DELIA
He's incredibly powerful. This
man's sternum was split like dry
wood from the base all the way up
to the manubrium.
Finch peers into the hole.
DELIA
And he's resourceful. On that
table behind you is a breakdown of
all the chemicals found in
Prothero's blood stream.
Finch hefts the pile of computer paper.
FINCH
Bloody hell.
DELIA
There were hundreds of different
chemicals in him. From
trinitrotoluene to estrogen to
motor oil.
He flips through the document, biting into the wooden end of
his pipe.
FINCH
Perhaps Fate will make something
more of all this. I certainly
can't.
DELIA
The Leader finally authorized an
uplink for you? He must be getting
nervous.
FINCH
Quite. Government directed
terrorism never sews healthy ideas
into the public. Oh, that reminds
me.
Finch pulls the evidence bag from his pocket.
FINCH
Can you tell us anything about
this?
Delia's eyes lock onto the violet carson.
FINCH
We found one in the carriage with
Prothero and this one in the
Bishop's quarters. A violet
carson.
He hands it to her.
FINCH
I heard that strain had died off.
Thought a botanist might shed some
light on it. Delia?
Delia, riveted to the rose, suddenly looks up to him.
DELIA
Yes -- Yes, of course.
FINCH
Magic. I'll drop by tomorrow then.
He turns, leaving her with the rose.
INT. SHADOW GALLERY
V relaxes with a book in an overstuffed reading chair, a
violet carson rose resting on a table next to him. He begins
to read a passage aloud.
V
"There is more behind and inside of
V than any of us had suspected.
Not who, but what: what is she?"
He places the book down. Thomas Pynchon's "V".
V rises, lifting the rose and moving into the darkness of the
Shadow Gallery.
EXT. EMPTY STREET
A small figure moves down the dark wet street, the
cobblestones glistening like black scales.
The huddled figure arcs across the street in the shadows,
avoiding the pools of streetlight. It is Evey, a frightened
look on her face.
INT. KITTY KAT KELLER
A woman in combat boots, fishnets, and a tight fitting
soldier's uniform is in the middle of a cheeky number on
stage in this smoky burlesque bar. It is a popular place
with locals and Fingermen.
Peter Creedy squeezes through the crowd, angling for the back
of the bar where a number of loud Fingermen are drinking.
CREEDY
What's all this, then, Harper? I
get a radio that a man's down and
in need of assistance?
HARPER
I ain't gone down yet but I sure do
need some assistance.
Creedy leans in.
CREEDY
Are you flat broke already?
They break up in laughter, led by Creedy who sits next to
Harper, pouring himself a drink.
LOUT
How'd you sneak away, Creedy?
Almond off buggering that blonde
chippy?
HARPER
The one with the tits?
They all begin to hoot and whistle.
CREEDY
What I wouldn't give for a piece of
that.
LOUT
She could serve a tray of drinks on
those thingies.
HARPER
I bet you get your chance with her
sooner than later, Creedy, with the
way Almond's crackin' up.
LOUT
Bloody bugger's losing his marbles.
HARPER
Terrorist or no, if that bastard
gives me another double shift, I'll
stomp his fucking head.
Creedy raises his drink.
CREEDY
Aye. This nonsense has put a
serious strain on my drinking. I
think I was actually sober today.
LOUT
I'll drink to that.
HARPER
We need to get a real man of the
people in that director's position.
Like Creedy here.
Everyone cheers in agreement.
CREEDY
Well, it's good to know when the
shit hits the fan who your real
friends are.
They salute and drink.
INT. ALMOND HOME
Derek Almond sits hunched under a desk lamp, pumping the
cylinders of his revolver with a wire brush.
Rosemary shuffles up to him, her frumpy gown gathered around
her.
ROSEMARY
Derek --
He blows down one of the cylinders, not looking up.
DEREK
I don't want to hear it, Rosemary.
ROSEMARY
Derek, please! We can't carry on
like this.
Derek stares at the gun, rage building.
ROSEMARY
You don't talk to me. You don't
eat with me. You don't have sex --
Derek leaps up, slugging her.
Rosemary clatters to the ground in tears. Derek glowering
over her.
DEREK
I don't have to take any crap from
you! I have that fat bastard
riding me all day. I don't want to
listen to you, so shut your fat
gob!
He leans into her face.
DEREK
And me not wanting to fuck you is
obvious. Take a look at yourself.
He sits back in front of the gun, wiping it down.
DEREK
Get out of my sight. I'm cleaning
my gun.
INT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S HOME
Dr. Surridge sits somberly in the dark, street light
filtering in from the open curtains.
Her eyes fixed on the violet carson as she slowly turns it
over in her hands, fingers tracing the soft petals.
After a moment, she stands, letting it fall from her lap.
INT. FINCH'S OFFICE - THE NOSE
Finch turns as Dominic bursts in.
DOMINIC
I got it!
FINCH
A connection?
Dominic waves a printout.
DOMINIC
Larkhill Resettlement Camp.
Prothero's and Lilliman's
employment records show they both
help positions there at similar
times.
FINCH
What about codename V?
DOMINIC
Most of Larkhill's records were
destroyed for security reasons but
I did uncover an old standard
procedures and operations manual.
Dominic smiles.
DOMINIC
In special case studies, medical
research groups used roman numerals
to identify test inmates.
FINCH
Five is the letter V. Brilliant,
Dominic.
Finch slides in front of his computer.
FINCH
All we need is Larkhill's
employment records.
INT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S BEDROOM
The covers pulled protectively up around her, Delia rests in
a light, uneasy sleep.
Suddenly, an eye pops open as she awakens, catching a
familiar scent. She slowly sits up and inhales.
DELIA
Roses.
She closes her eyes.
DELIA
It's you, isn't it? You've come to
kill me.
From the shadows, V answers.
V
Yes.
Tears begin to streak her face.
DELIA
Oh thank god. Thank god.
INT. FINCH'S OFFICE - THE NOSE
Dominic hangs over Finch's shoulder as Larkhill's employment
record comes up.
Finch's mouth falls open.
FINCH
Oh my god.
Row after row of names scroll by at the end of each bio are
the words: deceased, file closed.
FINCH
Oh bloody hell.
The data banks unfurl like a mass grave.
DOMINIC
He's killed them all? It's not
possible.
Finch stops, staring at the one name whose file is not
closed --
FINCH
Oh no.
Dr. Delia Surridge.
INT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S BEDROOM
V floats on the edge of the room's shadows, a dark angel.
V
Are you afraid?
DELIA
No, no. I thought I would be, but
I'm not. I'm --
She looks at the hovering, smiling mask.
DELIA
Relieved.
She starts to cry again.
DELIA
Oh god, all these years. All this
waiting. And somehow I always knew
you'd come back.
Delia thinks back.
DELIA
When I saw you that night -- the
night you escaped, you were
standing against the flames and you
looked straight at me.
The mask almost nods.
DELIA
I knew then that one day you'd come
looking for me, that you'd find me.
Her voice drops to an almost confessional whisper.
DELIA
What -- what happened at Larkhill.
What we did -- What I did. That
terrible knowledge, it's been with
me so long. That I could do things
like that.
Delia rubs the salty tears from her eyes.
DELIA
For years, I blamed it on the
government, on the authority I
could never stand up to. But
living so long with the knowledge
of what I did has made me
understand otherwise. I alone was
accountable.
V watches her.
DELIA
There is something wrong with us.
With all of mankind. With me.
Something evil that made me enjoy
what I did. Some hideous flaw.
Her voice almost trails off.
DELIA
We deserve to be culled. We
deserve it.
INT. ALMOND BEDROOM
Light sweeps across Rosemary from the opening bedroom door as
she sobs softly in bed. Derek enters, holding a bottle of
whiskey and his clean gun.
She sits up as Derek looms over her.
ROSEMARY
Derek? What?
He lifts the gun into her bruised face. Her eyebrows cringe
as he slowly pulls the trigger.
DEREK
Bang.
Click. It is empty.
DEREK
Don't worry, Rose. I didn't load
it.
The phone rings.
DEREK
Not tonight.
He grins evilly at her and answers the bedside phone.
DEREK
Almond. What?! Where?
Derek's drunk eyes light up.
DEREK
Oh god, yes! God, thank you!
He slams the phone down, charging out of the room.
EXT. KITTY KAT KELLER
A gaggle of drunks exit the bar, laughing and singing as they
pass a small figure.
INT. KITTY KAT KELLER
Evey wanders into the bar amidst the lustful screams and cat
calls for the line of high stepping, semi-clothed girls on
stage.
She stares out into the crowd, not sure why she is here when
a man approaches her: Creedy. His sloppy smile indicates he
has had a few drinks.
CREEDY
You look lost.
She looks blankly at him.
CREEDY
Can I buy you a drink?
EVEY
No... I made a mistake.
She turns for the door.
EVEY
I have to find someone.
Creedy frowns as his radio crackles.
CREEDY
Well I didn't like the looks of you
anyway --
RADIO (V.O.)
All units, all units. Code red.
Converge in Plaistow to apprehend
codename V.
CREEDY
Bloody hell!
He screams to the Fingermen at the back.
CREEDY
It's him! We got him!
Evey watches as they storm out of the bar, then follows.
EXT. CITY STREET
The emergency lights blaring, Finch's car squeals around a
corner.
INT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S BEDROOM
V hovers ghostly at Delia's bedside.
DELIA
It's funny, I was given one of your
roses today. I wasn't sure you
were the terrorist until I saw it.
She manages a smile.
DELIA
What a strange coincidence. That I
should be given it today.
V
There are no coincidences, Delia.
Only the illusion of coincidence.
He reaches into his cloak.
V
I have another rose. This one is
for you.
He hands it to her.
DELIA
Then you are going to kill me now?
V produces an empty syringe.
V
I killed you ten minutes ago.
While you slept.
DELIA
Is there any pain?
V sits on the bed.
V
No. No pain.
DELIA
Thank you.
She stares at the mask.
DELIA
Can I -- Can I see your face again?
V slowly pulls off his hat and lifts his mask. Delia stares
into his face.
DELIA
It's beautiful...
The rose falls from her hands.
INT. HALL
V quietly shuts the door as if not to wake her and turns just
as --
Derek Almond reaches the top of the stairs.
DEREK
Don't move an inch, you bloody
bastard.
He trains his gun.
DEREK
You didn't hear me arrive, did you?
Didn't know we'd rumbled you?
He squints.
DEREK
It's all finished, chummy. All of
it. The old man told me it was my
head or yours and what do you know.
It's yours.
The smiling mask stares.
DEREK
Because you're standing over there
with your bloody stupid knives and
your fancy karate gimmicks --
Derek pulls back the hammer.
DEREK
And I've got a gun.
He smiles.
DEREK
Bang.
Click. He never loaded it.
There is an awkward moment of silence, then V moves --
Cloak opening, filling the hall like a black tidal wave that
envelopes Derek. He chokes a scream as V embraces him,
slipping a knife above his floating rib.
Derek Almond sputters as he claws at V's mask.
DEREK
Who -- Who are you?
V
Yes, look. Look and tell me what
you see.
He rips V's mask off as V thrusts the knife in deeper.
Derek's eyes widen in horror as his life pours out the knife
wound.
DEREK
Horrible! God, it's horrible!
V jerks his blade free, letting Derek slip to the ground.
EXT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S HOME
Finch's car bucks up onto the sidewalk.
Finch and Dominic tear out of the car and barrel into the
house.
INT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S HOME
At the top of the stairs, they find the dead Derek. Finch
rushes past him for the bedroom.
FINCH
Delia?
Inside, he finds her. Her eyes fixed, cold, and dead, a
single violet carson in her lap.
FINCH
Get an ambulance.
EXT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S HOME
Evey rushes around a corner to see a crime scene bathed in
siren light. She pushes up to the police barricade as the
M.E.'s load a draped body into their van.
EVEY
Oh no... V?
She tries to angle around to get a better look when a man in
a brown overcoat grabs her from behind and drags her into the
alley.
INT. DELIA SURRIDGE'S BEDROOM
From the corner of the room, Finch sits, watching as the
M.E.'s wheel out Delia's body.
Dominic squeezes past the gurney and crosses toward Finch.
DOMINIC
I'm sorry, sir. You knew the
doctor pretty well?
Finch nods.
DOMINIC
We found this on her bureau, sir.
It's Dr. Surridge's journal. It
covers her years at Larkhill. It
might contain the whole story.
Dominic searches for something more to say when Finch does
not answer.
After a moment, Finch looks at the book in Dominic's hand,
then takes it, leafing through the pages. They flip by, a
breathy sigh, rising to a cold wind.
DELIA (V.O.)
May 23rd...
INT. LARKHILL MEDICAL RESEARCH BLOCK - DAY - FLASHBACK
A younger Dr. Surridge, one by one, administers a series of
injections to her research stock.
DELIA (V.O.)
Prothero has hand picked my
subjects. Four dozen of them, none
of which will be any use to me if I
don't get to work soon.
She finishes an injection, Prothero encouraging the next
subject. We recognize her as the woman Prothero pointed at.
DELIA (V.O.)
They're so weak and pathetic I find
myself hating them.
Delia prepares the next dose, a sour look on her face.
DELIA (V.O.)
They don't fight or struggle. Just
stare at you with weak eyes.
PROTHERO
Next.
INT. LARKHILL OVENS - DAY - FLASHBACK
Two inmate orderlies are hefting sacked cadavers from a cart
into an incinerator.
DELIA (V.O.)
June 9th: Of the original four
dozen, over 75% are now deceased.
Strangely, no clear patterns have
emerged as of yet.
Another body thuds onto the pile.
DELIA (V.O.)
Batch 5 seems to have no common
discernible effect on any specific
group though the men seem slightly
more resilient than the women.
When it is full, they move to the next door until the cart is
empty.
DELIA (V.O.)
I'm hoping the survivors will
provide more answers or my time
here will have gone to waste.
Red heat suddenly glows from the oven vents as the orderly
throws a series of switches.
INT. LARKHILL MEDICAL RESEARCH BLOCK - DAY - FLASHBACK
Dr. Surridge moves down the drab aseptic hallway accompanied
by an