The Stroke of Death (Episode)

Rorschach
Two cops are walking drunkenly down a dark alley. Judging by their conversation, they should be on duty. As they walk down the alley, we see pitch blackness in front of them. Suddenly a match is lit in front of them, it reveals a man wearing a trench coat, fedora, and white mask with shifting symmetrical patterns of ink. He then says, “Shouldn’t you be on duty” the camera zooms in on one of the blots on his face and in it we see the Batman symbol as the theme plays.

After the theme, we see Rorschach kneeling in front of two graves. They are the Wayne’s graves. He then goes inside Wayne Manor. He is very wet from the rain. He takes off his mask and coat, revealing Bruce Wayne’s face. Alfred greets him. “How did it go, Mr. Wayne?” Bruce says that although his training helped him take out a bunch of criminals, the only people who were scared of him were cops. He then remarks that the “mayor” will probably have a field day.

No Vigilantes
“NO!” shouts “mayor” Oswald Cobblepot, “NO,NO,NO,NO,NO! I will not have vigilantes in my town, I will not!” Cobblepot is yelling at Commissioner Loeb and Carmine Falcone. Loeb is terrified of this new vigilante activity, while Carmine says, “Come on, your starting to sound like my father. He could have become king of the city, but wouldn’t because of some man in a mask. Anyway, ‘mayor’ the Red Hood Gang and the Maronis are your top priority. This meeting is over.”

Secrets
We see Leo Redlodge’s office. He is reading “Tales of the Black Freighter: The Scariest Tales of 60 Years.” Someone knocks on the door, startling him and he shouts “the curse of the Black Freighter!!” He then realizes it's only the person he called over, so he adjusts his tie and makes himself look like he didn’t just yell that out. He then says in his most official voice, “Come in.” The visitor is Bruce. Redlodge then says that he was sorry for what happened the other night and that he wants to apologize over lunch. They then go to a diner called the Salt and Pepper Diner. On the way, Leo tells Bruce the Salt and Pepper Diner Story.

When they get to the diner, Redlodge goes to the jukebox and punches in a song. (Hooked on a Feeling) Then they order food, and Redlodge tells Bruce that he is actually an undercover agent for an organization called F.L.A.M.E. He is trying to find out who Carmine’s mysterious superior is. Redlodge also tells Bruce he knows that he is Rorschach and that he told him that he was a F.L.A.M.E. agent so that Bruce would trust him. When he says this, the song fades out and starts up again. Bruce just says, “Right…” To which Leo responds, “Nah, I only put this song in twice.” He then says that Bruce needs to lay off Falcone so he can track down Falcone’s boss and that even after he finds out, Flame needs Carmine alive so Gotham doesn’t collapse. Bruce refuses to this. Redlodge threatens to tell Falcone about his identity. Bruce just laughs and leaves saying he’ll just tell Falcone about Flame. Redlodge looks down at his food and “Hooked on a Feeling” plays a third time. He then says to himself, “But, Mr. Wayne, you’re not their loyal lawyer, I am and it's my word against yours”

None of You are Safe
Rorschach is heading out into the city’s slums. He walks into a bar. He orders a drink, but doesn’t touch it. A thug enters the room wearing a red ski mask, he goes up to the bar owner and says that since he hasn’t been paying protection to the Hoods, he’s going to pay. Rorschach then takes a match, lights his drink on fire, and throws it on the hood’s mask. He twists the hood on the screaming thug, so that it puts the fire out and blinds him. He grabs the man and drags him up the stairs. They are now on the roof. He then takes the mask off the thug, looks at him, and says, “Boom.” He then presses a detonator. We see a bunch of other warehouses blow up. The Hood then whispers, “Why me?” Rorschach then says, “Spread the word, none of you are safe.”

We see Falcone in his office, looking down on the city. Suddenly, he notices the warehouses blowing up throughout the city. He then shouts, “NO!” We learn that most of them are his warehouses and that he should take Rorschach seriously.

We then see a small device in Carmine’s office. The screen zooms in on it and we see the reflection of Carmine in it. The screen zooms out and the reflection is now a display on a screen. We see a man wearing a red helmet over his head he starts to laugh really loudly. (this is Red Hood One)

One does not Simply Kill Rorschach
A man wearing a dark suit and dark glasses is in the room with Carmine now. “The Master will not approve of this diversion,” says the man. “So what does your master want to do, Ubu?” asks Carmine. “The Master is sending a professional assassin. When he comes you will obey his instructions.” Says Ubu as he leaves.

It is later. A man enters Carmine’s room. “I am named Slade Wilson, I am a professional assassin.” “So, you’re going to kill Rorschach?” says Carmine. “One does not simply kill Rorschach.” says Slade. “I am going to hunt him, unmask him in public, and then kill him.”

Redlodge suddenly enters and says, “Maroni and Valeska claim you blew up their drug trading places.” “That wasn’t me it was Rorschach.” Says Carmine. Redlodge then swears to himself.

“Not to worry, I have met both Rorschach’s before,” says Slade. “There are two?” asks Carmine. “The first one died ages ago,” explains Slade. “I killed him. But, he took my eye.” He then instructs Carmine to invite Wayne to a party where he will start his hunt.

The Rorschach Party
We see some people dressed as Rorschach playing classical music, and we realize that this is Carmine’s party, which is themed for “Recent events” i.e. Rorschach. We see Bruce talking to Jeremiah Arkham. “This Asylum sounds like an interesting project, I think maybe I could convince Wayneco to give some support. By the way, how is…” Suddenly, we see Hugo on a podium. He then says, “Hello everyone, I would like to thank Carmine Falcone for putting on this great party for us all. I would also like to thank him for asking me to read the last pages of the famous Malcolm Long diary in light of recent events. He then reads the journal of the psychiatrist in Watchmen 6.

While he’s talking, a man named Harvey Dent approaches Wayne, “It really burns me how much these people hate Rorschach for helping clean this city up.” “oh?” says Bruce. “Yeah, if he came down to my District Attorney office, I’d sure help him out,” says Harvey.

Deathstroke then approaches Bruce and says, “Wayne! It's been how long? one year?” Bruce then chucles and quickly says, “I remember you, but hold that thought, I think I see some ladies.” Bruce then quickly walks away from Deathstroke. Harvey then asks Slade how he knows Bruce, Slade then says “Same exercise group.”

Imposter?
Redlodge sees this altercation, he then hides in a closet. He puts together a makeshift (but efficient) Rorschach disguise and bundles three red candles together. He jumps onto the podium and threatens to blow up everyone (the candles are supposed to be “dynamite”). Slade then shouts, “Leo Redlodge everybody, let’s give him a big hand.” There is some applause. Leo then shouts in a very unconvincing Rorschach voice, “Slade Wilson, you will not kill these people.” He then throws down a smoke bomb, and the room is enveloped in smoke. “OK, Redlodge I can see your set on stopping me!” shouts Slade. “But all you’ve done is bought a death warrant.” He pulls out a gun and points it in a random direction. We then hear a match light, and see Bruce (who is now Rorschach) standing in the smoke, just like earlier in the episode. He then knocks the gun out of Slade’s hand and says, “Hello Slade.”

Cast

 * Benedict Cumberbatch as Rorschach II
 * Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth
 * Jack Black as Oswald Cobblepot
 * Charles Dance as Carmine Falcone
 * Commisioner Loeb
 * John Mulaney as Leo Redlodge
 * Simon Pegg as Ubu
 * Sean Bean as Deathstroke
 * Willem Dafoe as Jeremiah Arkham
 * Ben Kingsley as Hugo Strange
 * Tom Cruise as Harvey Dent
 * Ben Whishaw as Jonathan Crane
 * Red Hood One