Tomorrow Never Dies Page #4

COL. DOMINIQUE EVERHART

(stifles a smile, then:)

In conclusion:
Both these men have a

vendetta against the world. They are

nuclear armed, and dangerous. And

having failed to get the UZ35 through

the old opium route - the Khyber Pass

- it's NATO's belief that their next

attempt will be through Bulgaria -

where the NATO Nuclear Strike Force

will be there to stop them.

M:

Thank you Colonel Everhart.

(stands, turns to:)

007, I'd like to see you in my office.

Why don't you and the Colonel exchange

numbers if you need more information?

BOND:

Yes, M.

M exits. Bond approaches Dominique. She smiles, warmly. There's a

mutual attraction - but there's something else going on, unspoken.

BOND:

Interesting presentation.

DOMINIQUE:

Interesting video tape.

BOND:

They point, I shoot.

DOMINIQUE:

(feels her pockets)

Do you have a pen? I just got promoted

and don't have my new cards yet.

BOND:

Of course.

Bond hands her a PEN. She regards it cautiously.

DOMINIQUE:

... Does this do anything?

BOND:

Depends what number you write.

She gives him a wry look; starts to write. He notes her WEDDING BAND.

BOND:

Married?

DOMINIQUE:

Happily.

BOND:

... Kids?

DOMINIQUE:

Three. You? Married?

BOND:

No.

DOMINIQUE:

(smiles)

I didn't think so.

For an instant, something crosses Bond's face: Bittersweetness? Re-

morse? Either way, she's scored a subtle victory.

DOMINIQUE:

Here. I gave you my assistant's

phone number. If it's urgent, she

knows where to reach me.

BOND:

Thanks.

(beat, holding her gaze)

Take care -

DOMINIQUE:

You too.

With a Sphinx-like smile, she watches Bond leave.

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF CONFERENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Where Bond encounters MONEYPENNY, also walking to M's office.

BOND:

Moneypenny! We've got to stop meeting

like this. They may be on to us.

MONEYPENNY:

Hello, James. Enjoy your meeting?

BOND:

In the darkest moments, it's what I

live for. Especially since I've

heard how much you like to watch...

On the hidden camera.

Moneypenny cuts Bond a look - and, in the background, sees Dominique

leave the conference room, and walk down the hall, away from them.

MONEYPENNY:

By the way, James: Ordinarily I would

never ask, but... Weren't you and

that Colonel once stranded on a raft

for two weeks in the Sargasso Sea?

BOND:

Moneypenny! How indiscreet! Have

you ever known me to kiss and tell?

They've come to a security door. She punches in a code -

MONEYPENNY:

Actually, I've never known you to do

either... But -

BOND:

- We all want what we can't have?

MONEYPENNY:

Not all of us, 007.

The door opens. They go into:

INT. M'S ANTEROOM (MONEYPENNY'S AREA) - CONTINUOUS

BOND:

What - no lust for adventure?

MONEYPENNY:

No, 007. It's just that I've learned

from personal experience - that when

we get what we want -

(beat)

Somehow the reality is never as...

Satisfying as the fantasy.

Bond scowls. Moneypenny smiles wryly, points to the inner door:

MONEYPENNY:

Don't keep M waiting.

INT. M'S OFFICE - DAY

M is behind her desk; MINISTER PETER JOHNSTONE sits across - a high-

handed Teflon-coated politician, with the survival instincts of

plutonium. They've been arguing.

M:

Come in, 007. You know the Minister?

BOND:

Of course.

(nods to)

Minister Johnstone.

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

007.

Bond sits in an armchair. M presses a button, and a video/bio of

ELIOT HARMSWAY appears on the wall behind her. Mid-50's, regal.

M:

Tell me, 007, what do you know about

Elliot Harmsway?

BOND:

(quipping)

Only what I read in the newspapers.

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

(disdainfully)

His newspapers?

BOND:

(glancing sideways)

Occasionally, yes.

(directly to M)

British media mogul. Born in Hong Kong;

controls newspapers, TV, radio, cable,

satellites; books, magazines, movies,

computer software. Theme parks.

M:

(holding up a copy of:)

- Along with Tomorrow - the first

world-wide newspaper. Circulation 27

million. Daily. -

BOND:

'Able to topple governments with a single

story' - as he says in his press.

JOHNSTONE:

(hurrumph)

Exactly.

Bond looks at Johnstone quizzically. Then a very tight-lipped M. He

senses he's about to enter a minefield:

BOND:

... What's Harmsway done?

M:

It seems, 007, we've received a tip

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

A rumor - from an anonymous source -

M:

- that Sir Elliot may be involved

with Stamper and Yung, and the

missing Uranium.

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

Hearsay. Idle chatter from a source

you can't identify - who insists on

talking only to 007. Nothing but

loose talk and innuendo.

M:

That may be the case at present,

Minister Johnstone... But our own

sources suspect that Mr. Harmsway

used his considerable Russian media

- holdings to elect Valentin Zukofsky

President of the Ukraine - in trade

for the uranium.

(M has punched a button, and Valentin's video bio has appeared.)

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

More scurrilous, unsubstantiated gossip.

BOND:

Perhaps. But it does explain how an

ex-KGB agent turned illegal-arms

dealer is suddenly portrayed as a

long-time friend of the people.

(beat)

If you believe what you read in the papers.

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

(annoyed)

Need I remind the two of you that

Elliot Harmsway - Sir Elliot Harmsway

- is directly descended from the Earl

of Aberdeen? That his Scottish

ancestors practically invented Hong

Kong - and out of sheer gratitude,

Queen Victoria herself named the port

"Aberdeen Harbor" in their honor?

M:

(long pause, then:)

... No more than I need remind you,

Minister, that merely being a member

of the lucky sperm club - does not

preclude one from a life of criminal

activity.

Johnstone is reeling. M continues, to Bond, with aplomb:

M:

The reason I invited the Minister

here, 007, was to reassure him that

this investigation will be handled

with the utmost discretion.

BOND:

Of course.

M:

Which is also why I've withheld this

information from NATO and our allies.

BOND:

(nods, then, recalling)

... Didn't we once investigate Harmsway?

M:

Yes. 1988. He was furious at the

British plan to return Hong Kong, and

supposedly started his own negotiations

with the Chinese Government. The inquiry

went nowhere - but it did earn MI-6 a

rather powerful enemy -

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

Not to mention the chaos it caused at

Whitehall when his newspapers began

screaming for the recall of the

sitting government.

M:

(a beat, then:
)

I'm sending you to Venice, 007.

You're to check out the source,

determine whether Elliot Harmsway is

involved with the enriched uranium,

and, if so, stop him.

BOND:

How will I meet the informant?

She hands Bond a CARNIVAL MASK:

M:

You're to wear this mask at the Venice

Carnival, and wait to be contacted.

BOND:

I understand.

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

(standing, to leave)

There is one last thing, 007: Elliot

Harmsway is vital to the economic

interests of this nation. He's also

a major contributor to the party. I

expect him to be given every consideration.

BOND:

Political considerations?

MINISTER JOHNSTONE

To the best of my recollection, Mr.

Bond, I suggested no such thing.

(beat, at the door)

In fact, I was never here.

And he exits. M, frowning, hits a button on her intercom:

M:

Would you send in the new man from

equipment branch?

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