V for Vendetta (2005)
Stephen Rea: Finch
Photos
Quotes
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V : [Disguised as William Rookwood, meeting with Inspector Finch] Our story begins, as these stories often do, with a young up-and-coming politician. He's a deeply religious man and a member of the conservative party. He is completely single-minded convictions and has no regard for the political process. Eventually, his party launches a special project in the name of 'national security'. At first, it is believed to be a search for biological weapons and it is pursued regardless of its cost. However, the true goal of the project is power, complete and total hegemonic domination. The project, however, ends violently... but the efforts of those involved are not in vain, for a new ability to wage war is born from the blood of one of their victims. Imagine a virus - the most terrifying virus you can, and then imagine that you and you alone have the cure. But if your ultimate goal is power, how best to use such a weapon? It is at this point in our story that along comes a spider. He is a man seemingly without a conscience; for whom the ends always justify the means and it is he who suggests that their target should not be an enemy of the country but rather the country itself. Three targets are chosen to maximize the effect of the attack: a school, a tube station, and a water-treatment plant. Several hundred die within the first few weeks. Until at last the true goal comes into view. Before the St. Mary's crisis, no one would have predicted the outcome of the elections. No one. But after the election, lo and behold, a miracle. Some believed that it was the work of God himself, but it was a pharmaceutical company controlled by certain party members made them all obscenely rich. But the true genius of the plan was the fear. A year later, several extremists are tried, found guilty, and executed while a memorial is built to canonize their victims. Fear became the ultimate tool of this government. And through it our politician was ultimately appointed to the newly created position of High Chancellor. The rest, as they say, is history.
Finch : Can you prove any of this?
V : Why do you think I'm still alive?
Finch : Right. We'd like to take you into protective custody, Mr. Rookwood.
V : Oh, I'm sure you would. But if you want that recording, you'll do what I tell you to do. Put Creedy under 24 hour surveillance. When I feel safe that he can't pick his nose without you knowing, I'll contact you again. Until then, cheerio.
Finch : Rookwood. Why didn't you come forward before? What were you waiting for?
V : For you, Inspector. I needed you.
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Finch : One thing is true of all governments - their most reliable records are tax records.
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Finch : Who was he?
Evey Hammond : He was Edmond Dantés... and he was my father. And my mother... my brother... my friend. He was you... and me. He was all of us.
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Finch : The problem is, he knows us better than we know ourselves. That's why I went to Larkhill, last night.
Dominic : But that's outside quarantine.
Finch : I had to see it. There wasn't much left. But when I was there it was strange. I suddenly had this feeling that everything was connected. It's like I could see the whole thing, one long chain of events that stretched all the way back before Larkhill. I felt like I could see everything that happened, and everything that is going to happen. It was like a perfect pattern, laid out in front of me. And I realised we're all part of it, and all trapped by it.
Dominic : So do you know what's gonna happen?
Finch : No, it was a feeling. But I can guess. With so much chaos, someone will do something stupid. And when they do, things will turn nasty. And then Sutler will be forced to do the only thing he knows how to do. At which point, all V needs to do is keep his word. And then...
[Dominoes collapse with TV footages showing conflicts between rioting citizens and the anti-riot police]
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Finch : If our own government was responsible for the deaths of almost a hundred thousand people... would you really want to know?
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Finch : Why are you doing this?
Evey Hammond : Because he was right.
Finch : About what?
Evey Hammond : That this country needs more than a building right now. It needs hope.
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Little Glasses Girl : [camera follows many BFC trucks delivering packages to front doors all over London] I'll get it.
BFC courier : [at Finch's door] Eric Finch?
Finch : Yeah.
Finch : [opens box: One of V's Guy Fawkes masks is inside, along with a spare costume] Bloody hell...
Finch : [at police HQ] How many went out?
Dominic : So far we count eight box cars: several hundred *thousand* at least.
Finch : Christ.
Sutler : [cut to shot of little girl playing in street wearing V's costume] I want anyone caught with one of those masks arrested!
Convenience Store V : [man wearing a V mask is robbing a convenience store] Give me the money! Give me the fucking money!
Dominic : [police HQ: all phones are ringing off the hook] We're under siege here, the whole city's gone mad!
Finch : [dawning realization] This is exactly what he wants.
Dominic : What?
Convenience Store V : Anarchy in the UK!
[fires gun into air]
Finch : Chaos.
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[Finch looks out his window on the morning of November 4]
Finch : Tonight's your big night. Are you ready for it?... Are we ready for it?
