During the writing of Judge Dredd: Jihad, a number of scenes were cut for reasons of timing and narrative flow; the scripts for those missing moments are presented here for your interest.
Please note, these scenes contain spoilers for the Jihad plotline!
Dredd takes a blood test
This deleted sequence starts with an alternative ending to Scene 19 (Dredd visits Doctor Ipcress’s office) and a different Scene 20 set in the Med Bay of Justice Central. I cut this because I felt it slowed the flow of events and needlessly reinforced the Judda connection too soon after Jonah’s big reveal. This version of the script still has Oz Judge Hogan as Judge Bruce.
Scene 19
Control: [FILTERED, INTERUPPTING] Control to Judge Dredd, priority one! Report to Grand Hall of Justice immediately, for DNA testing by the SJS internal affairs division.
Dredd: The Special Judical Service? Why?
Control: [FILTERED] The orders are from Chief Judge Hershey, Dredd. You’ve been implicated in the Ipcress murder.
Off that shocking comment, we Fade Out.
Scene 20 Interior, Medbay.
Hershey: This won’t take a second, Dredd. This Robo-Doc will perform the blood test.
HISS of a hypodermic as the Robo-Doc works on Dredd.
Dredd: Why is this necessary? My genetic code is on file with MAC.
Hershey: Regulations. You know the rules better than anyone.
The Robo-Doc BEEPITY-BEEPS as it scans the blood.
Bruce: Chief Judge, you can’t seriously believe that Dredd killed this Ipcress fella?
Hershey: Of course not. But we have to follow procedure- [THE ROBO-DOC BEEPS] Here’s the DNA comparison…
Bruce: [SURPRISED] Blimey! A ninety-eight percent match!
Hershey: Tek-Division places Ipcress’s, uh, cremation at twenty-two hundred hours last night. I assume you have an alibi?
Dredd: [IRKED] Juve confront at Tyler Durden Block. A dozen other Judges saw me there.
Hershey: That’s good enough for me. But it won’t be good enough for the other Chief Judges if word of this gets out. Like you said, a lot of them are our enemies and they’d use this to throw doubt on the whole summit. [BEAT] Looks like you were right when you said there was more to that stolen truck. How’s that “gut feeling” you had?
Dredd: Worse. I can’t put my finger on it, but something keeps digging at me. Last time I felt like this….was the day I took down Kraken.
Hershey: Kraken? But that was during Necropolis, years ago. He’s long dead.
Dredd: He’d better be. In the meantime, I want to go after these Judgementarian creeps. They’ve got some kinda connection to all this and I want to shake ’em up, see what falls out.
Bruce: Yeah, we’ll rattle their dags, right mate?
Hershey: The summit convenes at the Empire State Building in eight hours. You’d better get some results, and fast.
Dredd: I intend to.
Fade out.
The Chief Judges argue
This was some non-specific conversation to play beneath the action during the scenes at the Global Justice Conference, which was cut for time.
APPENDIX #2 CONFERENCE VOICE ATMOSPHERE
Levy: Order! Order! I must demand order! This is hardly the way to begin such an august meeting!
Huston: Pipe down, Britto! Y’all will get y’all turn to speak when you got the floor!
Levy: Now look here, you ruffian! Your ten-gallon hat might impress the ladies on the streets of Texas City but it cuts no ice with me!
Sven: What does his hat have to do with anything? I think it is a nice hat. I have many hats myself.
Huston: My hat is my own grud-dammed business! You oughta both watch where you’re shootin’ off your mouths!
McIntee: Can ye no keep a civil tongue in your head? I didnae come halfway around the world to listen to ye babbling about ye head-gear!
Sven: Yah, McIntee is right. We must address the important issues. Such as raising the ban on the Eurovision Song Contest.
Ortiz: Oh, please spare me! A bunch of Euro-cits caterwauling like castrated cats? The world is a better place for the silence from your nations!
Crilly: Now, let’s not be too hasty, there. Many a fine tune has been sung in order to promote global unity…
McIntee: Aye, yon Irish laddie has a point! At least we dinnae pollute the airwaves with that mambo-bambo-latino twaddle!
Ortiz: How dare you! Our national music is our gift to the world! We have taught you all to live la vida loca!
Wong: Respectfully, I must agree with my South American associate. I find their popular musical tunes to be most pleasing. They have a good beat and you can dance to it.
Crilly: Well, you both have good points, but I have to say, I like a good ballad meself. Something light and heartwarming.
Keith: Naah! Give me a rock and roll tune any day, mate! Something to get the blood pumping with a kicking guitar riff!
Wong: I fear you have little to add to this discussion, sir! The Australian nation is known only for its squeaky girlish pop idols and not the hard rock of which you speak.
Keith: Now that is a load of roo’s poo! Everyone who lives in Oz knows how to rock out! It’s practically a national obesession!
H-Wagon Intercept
This is an alternate version of Scene 10, where Dredd and Hogan warn off an advertisement blimp flying too close to the Grand Hall of Justice – unaware that the Judda are aboard it. It was cut for time and replaced with a shorter scene in the Justice Central squad room.
Scene 10 Interior, Justice Department H-Wagon
The sound of powerful thruster jets IDLING through the open hatch.
Dredd: Dredd to Control! I’m taking H-Wagon Alpha Three for an aerial sweep of Justice Plaza before the meeting starts.
Control: [FILTERED] Confirmed, Dredd. You’re clear for take-off from the East landing pad. Flight pattern at your discretion.
Dredd: All right, let’s get airborne…
Hogan: [APPROACHING AT A RUN] Hey Dredd! Wait up!
The H-Wagon’s thrusters cycle up to FULL…
Dredd: Move it, Hogan, we’re burning daylight!
Hogan leaps aboard with a GRUNT of effort and the hatch SLAMS shut behind him. The H-Wagon lifts off.
Hogan: [OUT OF BREATH] Whew!
Dredd: [SARCASTIC] Glad you could join us…
Hogan: Sorry I’m late, mate. Overslept, y’know? Can’t say I think much of the bunks you got here… It’s like kipping on a stone.
Dredd: Don’t use ’em. Ten minutes in the dream machine is enough for me.
Hogan: You’ve been up all night?
Dredd: Crime doesn’t sleep. [BEAT] Pilot, take us over Aftermath Square and loop around.
The H-Wagon’s engine note changes as the flyer makes a wide turn.
Hogan: What’s our game plan for today, mate?
Dredd: Hershey is on in a few minutes. She’ll announce the location of the summit meeting in closed session. We’ll run overwatch.
Hogan: No worries!
Control: [FILTERED, URGENT] Dredd, this is Control! We got a commercial airship off course and entering the restricted zone!
Dredd: Copy, Control, H-Wagon on intercept!
The H-Wagon’s engine note REVS as the flyer accelerates.
Hogan: There it is! Blimey, it’s a big as a whale!
Approaching the Ad-Blimp, we hear the sound of advertisements being broadcast (Re-use the ‘Grot Pot’ jingle from Wanted: Dredd or Alive).
Dredd: Yeah, these things cruise the city day and night, blaring out commercials… [OVER P.A.] Attention, airship! Change course immediately or we will open fire! You are transiting a secured Justice Department no-fly zone!
Robot: [ROBOT FILTER, CHIRPY] Oh, whoops! Sorry Judge!
The noise from the blimp starts to recede…
Hogan: Man, even the robots are scared of you…
Dredd: With good cause. [TO RADIO] Control, this is Dredd. Situation nominal. We’re returning to the Grand Hall.
The H-Wagon’s engines ROAR…
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