Early Halo 2 cinematic script

The “Behind the Scenes” documentary featured on the ‘’Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition’’ “Special Content Disk” possesses a shot of Joseph Staten flipping through the pages of an early script for ‘’Halo 2.’’

The legible portions of the script have been transcribed below.

Opening Page
A white title fades onto the black screen.


 * On and on shall old war go,
 * Without respite my blood will flow
 * O’er your eyes ‘til they cannot see
 * The impossibility of victory.
 * --Excerpt from the Writ of Union
 * Unknown Covenant Author

The title fades away, leaving a BLACK SCREEN. Beat.

FADE IN on the massive Covenant Holy City, "High Charity", hanging on orbit above the gas-giant, "Threshold".

As the camera ZOOMS slowly forward, distant voices emit from inside the High Charity’s Council-Chamber.


 * ELITE COMMANDER (V.O.)
 * There was only one.


 * PROPHET OF TRUTH (V.O.)
 * One? Are you sure?


 * ELITE COMMANDER (V.O.)
 * Yes.

Beat.


 * ELITE COMMANDER (V.O.)


 * The Demon.


 * FADE IN

'''C205_20 INT. HIGH CHARITY – COUNCIL CHAMBER – CONT.'''

From the back, DOLLY PAST a row of seated PROPHET COUNCILORS and toward the center of the Council Chamber. The PROPHET COUNCILORS comment amongst themselves.


 * PROPHET COUNCILORS
 * (excited muttering)

"Holotank" Page



 * CORTANA
 * The Covenant data I retrieved was
 * hardly deci sive. How can ONI be so
 * certain?


 * ?????????????????? away from the holo-tank on MIRANDA. She
 * ??????????????? and JOHNSON can get a better idea. LORD
 * HOOD ????????


 * LORD HOOD
 * Station, bring up this
 * morning’s tac-record, timestamp
 * delta-four-eleven.


 * CLOS E ON the HOLO-TANK. Earth is in the center of the
 * ta nk. The COVENANT fleet is packed tightly together a
 * g ood distance away from Earth. The human fleet is
 * por trayed in a loose line between Earth and the Covenant
 * fle et.

"Whole Career" Page

 * H2SCRIPT p3.png


 * LORD HOOD
 * ??? Commander?

??? squares her shoulders. This is the ??? working for her whole career.


 * MIRANDA
 * Yes, sir!

??? smiles at MIRANDA. She’s just like her father. ??? toward the MASTER CHIEF.


 * LORD HOOD
 * Master Chief, you will lead the assault on the Covenant vessel.

ZOOM on the MASTER CHIEF and JOHNSON.


 * LORD HOOD (O. C.)
 * Sergeant Johnson and the In Amber Clad’s company of ODSTs will provide support.

"Jump-To-It" Page


??? an elite ??? they are trained for ??? "Human Entry Vehicles"

??? and is built to ??? a high-impact ??? line both sides of the ???

???. He stands by his HEV’s hatch ??? to jump-to-it.


 * JOHNSON
 * ??? cans, sardines!

??? hustle past JOHNSON, grab hold of their ??? entry bars, and swing into position.


 * JOHNSON (O. C.)
 * I wanna hear those bindings pop!

???11) INT. IN AMBER CLAD – HEV – CONT.

"No Wars" Page


??? A hairy paw ???? loudly against the ???

??? He does not move.


 * ELITE COMMANDER
 * ??? you call me out…

??? COMMANDER. He opens his eyes.


 * ELITE COMMANDER (CONT’D)
 * …if there were no wars?

"Moments of Crisis" Page


??? all those ???, a Dervish.

??? PROPHET OF MERCY


 * PROPHET OF MERCY
 * ??? will always be moments of crisis when honor matters less than swift resolution.

??? the PROPHET OF TRUTH.


 * PROPHET OF TRUTH