- "It has been in storage for quite some time, we must test it."
"But they know about us now!"
"They will soon be far too busy to concentrate on us." - ―Johann Fennhoff and Dottie Underwood[src]
The Massacre at the Cinema Theatre was the result of an attempt by Johann Fennhoff to test Midnight Oil.
Background[]
- "You designed a poison gas, Howard?"
"No! Well, not intentionally. The army wanted something that would keep soldiers awake for days at a time, but it failed. Caused symptoms similar to sleep deprivation, anger, hallucinations, psychosis." - ―Peggy Carter and Howard Stark[src]
During the so-called Battle of Finow, Johann Fennhoff lost his brother when Midnight Oil, a faulty experimental stimulant developed by Howard Stark, was deployed by General John McGinnis. Fennhoff swore revenge on Stark for creating the gas.[1] Towards that plot, the inventions of Stark were stolen,[2] but later recovered by Peggy Carter and taken to the New York Bell Company Office branch of the Strategic Scientific Reserve.[3] Midnight Oil was labelled "Item 17".[4]
Massacre[]
- "Do you think it will work?"
"I have great faith in Mr. Stark's inventions." - ―Dottie Underwood and Johann Fennhoff[src]
Dottie Underwood, Fennhoff's personal assassin, learned that Midnight Oil was "Item 17" when she stole the key and entered the room of Carter and saw its picture while there. Fennhoff came to the United States of America,[5] entered the SSR Office and stole the container holding the gas. However, he needed to be sure that the product still worked after its long dormancy. Underwood bought a baby carriage, placed the container with the gas inside, and put it in a cinema theater as people watched the movie, "The "F" Stands for Freedom".[6]
Once the doors to the theater were barred by Underwood, the gas canister promptly went off and within minutes the denizens were showing symptoms of exposure to Midnight Oil. The patrons started attacking each other which resulted in a massacre with no survivors, just like the Battle of Finow.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "What the Hell happened here, detective?"
- ―Jack Thompson to Prendergast[src]
The New York City Police Department called the New York Bell Company Office branch of the Strategic Scientific Reserve to help them to investigate the massacre. Daniel Sousa inhaled a small quantity of the gas and had to be subdued when he tried to kill Peggy Carter and Jack Thompson.
Stark went to the SSR and explained the origin of Midnight Oil, the Battle of Finow, and the reason behind Johann Fennhoff's Revenge Plot against him. Knowing that Midnight Oil was still viable and lethal, Johann Fennhoff and Dottie Underwood worked on a way to disburse the other containers of the gas they had. Ultimately, they kidnapped Howard Stark and planned to have him disburse the gas over Times Square during the New York City's celebration of the anniversary of V-E Day.[1]