Tomorrow Never Dies Page #10

RATING:

Radar switched to passive mode; sonar

re-set to low-power operation.

(beat)

You couldn't find our signature with

a magnifying glass.

FIRST OFFICER:

Let's hope so.

The First Officer joins the Second Officer at the windows, scanning

the horizon with binoculars.

SECOND OFFICER:

Looks like we're in for a long,

uncomfortable trip.

FIRST OFFICER:

We'll all breathe a lot easier when

we get this cargo back to London.

CUT TO:

EXT. MANOR HOUSE - THE COAST OF SCOTLAND - DAY

THE BAGPIPE AND DRUM CORPS of the Royal Highland Regiment (aka the

"Black Watch") is playing a FUNERAL DIRGE outside a vast stone house,

with a HARMSWAY NEWS HELICOPTER on the lawn, and LIMOUSINES, A HEARSE

and a FLOWER CAR in the driveway.

SIX MEN IN FORMAL MOURNING ATTIRE are entering the house.

INT. GRAND ROOM - SCOTTISH MANOR HOUSE -

A SINGLE WHITE ROSE is added to a pile of white roses in PARIS

HARMSWAY'S OPEN CASKET.

REVEAL:
We're in mid-procession: The last two (of the six men from

outside) place roses in the casket...

Then turn, nodding sorrowfully to ELLIOT HARMSWAY (sitting in the

front row of a room that's keen turned into a makeshift chapel)...

And follow hand signals of STAMPER, who motions them THROUGH A DOOR,

to an unseen room.

After the last man has paid his respects, HARMSWAY stands, walks to

the bier, and - wiping away a tear - places a single RED ROSE in his

dead wife's casket.

INT. HARMSWAY'S INNER SANCTUM - SCOTTISH MANOR HOUSE - DAY

We're in a room that looks as if it could only exist in, well, a

James Bond movie: Slick, stark, sterile. Steel, glass, chrome.

The SIX men are seated around a giant conference table, looking

absurdly out of place in their formal mourning attire.

Elliot Harmsway enters, (passing what appears to be the Liechtenstein

that hangs in the lobby of CAA,) walks to the head of the table,

takes off his gray mourning gloves, slaps them down, and:

HARMSWAY:

Good morning, Gentlemen. I'm sorry

to bring you here under these

circumstances, but

(beat)

Considering our meeting was already

scheduled, this was a happy coincidence.

The men nod. Harmsway sits, dims the lights from a control panel.

HARMSWAY (cont'd)

Number One, your report?

A gap-toothed Californian with bland features stands.

NUMBER ONE:

Sir Elliot:
The entertainment division

is releasing three new animated

children's movies this year.

(pause)

By the time we're finished promoting

them on our TV, radio, cable, newspaper,

and magazine outlets -

(pause)

There won't be a parent in the universe

who won't feel guilty if they don't take

their children to our stores and theme

parks to buy the toys, books, video-

games and clothing featuring our

'lovable little creatures.'

(pause)

We anticipate revenues of 3.1 billion

dollars.

HARMSWAY:

Excellent, Number One. Build a better

rat-trap, and the world truly will beat

a path to your theme park.

(turns to)

Number Two?

A young guy with glasses gets up, looking remarkably like Bill Gates.

NUMBER TWO:

As you're aware, Sir Elliot, our

software division has introduced a new

computer operating system, Gates '99.

(beat)

It's deliberately filled with bugs -

so people will be forced to buy our

upgrades over the next five years.

(beat)

The window on revenues is 2.8 billion.

HARMSWAY:

Outstanding, Number Two.

(beat, remembering:)

By the way - Number Five - ?

(a man looks up)

Who's ahead in the American elections?

NUMBER FIVE:

The Democrat, sir. By nine points.

HARMSWAY:

Maybe it's time to publish that story

about his sex life. Even things up.

A close race is always better for our

TV ratings.

NUMBER FIVE:

Consider him slimed, sir.

HARMSWAY:

Splendid. Next...

(with noticeable reserve)

Number Three. Your report?

A SHORT MIDDLE-EASTERN MAN stands. Nervous.

NUMBER THREE:

I regret to inform you, sir, that

Saddam Hussein is still demanding a

bonus for his role in the Gulf War.

HARMSWAY:

...Haven't we already paid him for his services?

NUMBER THREE:

Yes, sir. But he still feels his

people should share in the increased

profits of our news division. He has

proposed an additional 500 million

dollar payment.

A pause. The other men in the room shift uncomfortably.

HARMSWAY:

... And there's no truth that 10% of

that money will go into your Swiss

bank account?

NUMBER THREE:

No sir! I swear! This is not true!!

HARMSWAY:

You disappoint me, Number Three.

Harmsway presses a button. Stamper enters. Number Three assumes

this means death. He BEGS FOR HIS LIFE:

NUMBER THREE:

Please sir. Please -

HARMSWAY:

...But because I am a just man, I've

decided to give Mr. Hussein what he

deserves.

Number Three is confused. Does this mean he's going to live?

HARMSWAY:

Mr. Stamper will escort you to the plane.

NUMBER THREE:

(overwhelmed with gratitude)

Thank you sir! Thank you!

Harmsway nods, watching him leave:

HARMSWAY:

Good-bye, Mr. Azziz.

And the man is gone. Harmsway turns his attention back to the room:

HARMSWAY:

Let's proceed with new business.

Harmsway presses another button. The room darkens. The CENTER OF

THE TABLE OPENS, and a 3-D MAP OF MALAYSIA rises into view.

HARMSWAY:

Gentlemen:
In exactly 36 hours, we

are going to initiate phase one of

the word's most perfect crime: The

biggest theft in the history of mankind.

(beat, pointing with a laser)

Right here. In the Strait of Malacca.

EXT. LIMOUSINE - MANOR HOUSE - DAY

Stamper holds the back door open for Number Three. He gets in.

INT. LIMOUSINE -

He seems relieved, until the doors lock, ominously. They drive off.

EXT. SCOTTISH HIGHLAND ROADWAY - (INT./EXT. LIMOUSINE - MOVING) DAY

Number Three fidgets in the back... And notices Stamper smiling at

him in the REARVIEW MIRROR. He sees Stamper reach INTO HIS JACKET -

and PANICS! Is he going to get shot? Is it over? He winces, as -

STAMPER'S HAND SUDDENLY THRUSTS BACKWARD THROUGH THE PARTITION.

STAMPER:

Gum?

Shaking his head, he pulls out a HANDKERCHIEF to mop the flop sweat.

RETURN ON THE MANOR HOUSE - FAVORING THE HNN HELICOPTER -

Amidst ad-libbed 'good-bye's" from the gang of six (now five,)

Harmsway gets in the waiting HNN chopper. It powers up, takes off.

EXT. SMALL AIRPORT - SCOTLAND -

Stamper's limousine parks near a Gulfstream jet. He opens the back

door for Number Three. At last, the man believes he is safe.

NUMBER THREE:

Thank you! Thank you so much. You

must thank Sir Elliot for me.

STAMPER:

(producing a NEWSPAPER)

Here. Something to read on the plane.

Stamper TUCKS THE PAPER FIRMLY UNDER #3'S ARM - and gives him a

friendly pat on the back, sending him up the stairs.

At the doorway, Number Three looks back. Stamper smiles, waving:

STAMPER:

Bye-bye.

INT. GULFSTREAM JET - DAY

Number Three settles into his seat. The door closes; the engines

wind up for take-off. He sighs: He's safe. He casually picks up the

newspaper, snaps open the front page:

INSERT FRONT PAGE OF HARMSWAY'S "TOMORROW' NEWSPAPER:

Screaming headline: ISRAELI AGENT REVEALED. There's a FULL COLOR

PHOTO OF NUMBER THREE underneath.

Number Three lowers the paper, white as a ghost, and -

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