Deep Legend, DeYtH Banger [ebook reader computer .TXT] 📗

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