in the book, v is killed by a guy (can't remember his name) it was the guy who went to the concentration camp and the lover of the one the girls that could recognize him whom he killed. as v is dieing he talks to evey and gives his farewell. then she thinks about taking off his mask, but doesn't, she finally understand that what's under the mask isn't impotant, it's what the mask symbolizes that's important. the same night there is an assembly in support of v. the police aren't worried because they've heard news that v is dead and they know once he doesn't show up the crowd will leave. at midnight the crowd hears big ben chime and teh policeman states "ahh, the sond of big ben, isn't she lovely" and the other responds, "yes...wait, big ben was blown up years ago, that coming from the speakers" the crowd looks up and their is v (but we know it's evey) and he/she gives a speech, and the crowd revolts against the police. she then finds a protege the way she was found."

You still get the bit with Evey being tempted to look under the mask, but realizing that it's not the mask that's important. In the end, the symbolism of the mask still comes into play, but doesn't manifest itself as Evey 'becoming' V. Rather, the entire mob marches as V.