THE MISSING MINUTE

This Time Bond is the Target

Prologue

Sao Pedro, Portugal. A huge stilt house on the water's edge encircled by a gigantic spiral wooden stairway – dozens of guards with rifles – a small row of trucks with canvas covers. Sunset. Red skies.

In the stilt house, on one of the upper levels, a man sits in a chair, tied up – face bloody. He watches a beautiful dark haired woman quickly putting together several guns and rifles out of many pieces from a few suitcases on a bed. She is smoking a cigar and wearing a black kimono with a red design on the back. Her name is Elsa – a contract assassin for the Red Chinese army and recently for the Specter organization.

A masked man walks in suddenly – his name is Christo.

Christo

"The General sounds tense. You can never hide fear or tension in someone's

voice. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Vega?"

Vega

"Please…. We've been here for hours… I've told you everything I know about

my contacts….."

Christo

"Except the whereabouts of a certain british agent."

Vega

"There are many British agents….many …"

Christo

"But only one James Bond. The one who did this to my face three years ago and thought he was rid of me."

Christo pulls a pin from the left side of his mask and the front portion of the metallic mask is lifted up to expose a skeletal, scarred face. Vega stares in horror.

Elsa, still 'clicking' weapons together, still smoking, looks over to see Christo.

Vega

"My God ..He did that to you?"

Christo

"Not specifically. His explosion ridden getaway did."

Elsa

"This is taking too long, Christo."

Chrsito, "I trusted you, Vega. You were my eyes and ears in London. Now I discover you've also been working with the very assassin I seek."

Vega

"No… not true …. not true …"

Christo

"Forty-five feet below your chair is a huge basin of acid. A combination strong enough to eat through a herd of hippos in seconds." little 'bomb making factory' here… I also know that you met with him in Morocco three weeks

Christo touches a lever beside Vega's chair. Vega stares at the lever.

Christo, reattaching the pin and closing the mask again --

"I know Bond and his organization are aware of our ago. How will he arrive – plane? Submarine? Tell me – and I won't pull this lever."

Over by the bed where Elsa is standing, a light pulsates suddenly on a phone ---

Elsa, in the middle of putting on a battle harness/uniform, picks up the phone, saying,

"I ordered no interruptions."

A voice

"The guards in the tower spotted three parachutes descending … black uniforms …. masked … possibly armed…then we lost their transmission."

Elsa hangs up the phone and then says to Christo,

"He's here."

She walks over to the chair and pulls the lever – Vega falls way down, screaming -- and splashes into the huge basin of acid. Christo looks at her in disbelief.

Elsa

"It must be Bond. Like a thief in the night. I know his style."

Christo

"You of all people would." Pause. She hands him a pistol. He says, "Prepare the men. Secure the General to the lower levels. Triple the guard in the tower."

A dark uniformed paratrooper lands on a gigantic wooden stairway that surrounds a circular building that is housing a very large missile inside. The paratrooper is 006 –

He is also masked with dark green goggled. He pulls off his back pack and pulls out a few metallic 'pipes' – starts clicking them into a small rifle with sights, silencer, etc.

Suddenly, armed Portuguese guards come walking around the corner – 006 turns and starts firing a few 'burps' – the guards fall under the quiet hail of bullets. More come from the other side – 006 turns again but this time he sees another masked paratrooper fly down onto them –knocking them down then letting a small hail of bullets fly as well. Their bodies drop. It's Bond – 007 – dark blue goggles.

006 says, "Remember, 007, Cosgrove wants the General alive."

Bond

"He also wants this little revolution of bomb makers stopped in its tracks –"

Bond pulls off his back pack and starts pulling out remote shaped timers, etc.

Bond

"I count four trucks – 004 will cover us. I'll start here with the charges."

006

"Right. I'll get to the trucks."

006 starts descending the huge winding stairway. Bond turns and says, quietly,

"Vega said that Clemente would be on the lower levels –"

006

"Vega … you mean your contact … is he still in Portugal?"

Bond

"If he is – he's probably dead. 006 --the eyes in the back of your head must be asleep. Try to open them if you can --- I can't shoot these flies off your back all night."

006

"Very funny, Bond. Just be ready in ten minutes." He takes off.

Bond starts racing upwards and locates where the missile's nose is exposed in the middle of the stairway. Bond crouches and looks up to see another masked paratrooper further up on the walkway – looking down at Bond – discarding of his parachute. It must be agent 004 – who is also pulling out a small rifle with silencer attached. He spots Bond below – Bond points at his own eyes and swirls his hand in a circular motion. 004 gives a 'thumbs up' and starts ascending even higher up the stairway.

Bond begins placing some large explosive charges on the nose cone of the large missile and turns several switches. Lights turn from red to green. He then looks at his watch.

Below on the ground, 006 sneaks quietly and quickly around the four trucks with huge canvas tops. He looks under the canvas and sees several small missiles lying on their sides. He then jumps on a few guards individually and keeps placing charges on the sides of the trucks. Then he also looks at his watch.

Back with Bond, he hears a guard's voice from above – yelling something –rifle pointing. Bond turns from his work and fires quickly from under his armpit. The guard is hit and falls to his death – crashing through several layers of the spiral gigantic wooden stairway.

Meanwhile, climbing the stairway, with the self-loading Abolisher( a huge automatic bazooka like rifle), is Elsa – who stops and carefully pulls on a mask, checks her enormous rifle and starts ascending even quicker.

Bond taps his headpiece, saying,

"006 – this is 007 – the audience members have all been seated – the lights are down – we can start the show in five minutes. Confirm your status. Over."

006

"All lights are green – General Clemente is on the east wing by the bridge. Over."

Bond

"Acknowledged. 004, this is 007. Confirm your status. Over." Pause. "004 – this is 007. Confirm –"

Suddenly -- RRATATATATATAATATA

Shooting from above with the Abolisher is the masked Elsa – it fires like a bazooka – huge explosions surround Bond. His stairway section explodes to splinters. He falls two levels and hangs onto an edge – looking down.

Bond manages to pull himself up – pulling out his rifle. Several guards suddenly rush into the scene on the next level below Bond's. An alarm is sounded!

006, below on the ground, looks around. Back up above, Bond jumps down on the small group of guards -- and like a tornado, knocks them all off the level sending them to their possible deaths far below; without pulling a trigger.

More guards start rushing into the scene – as Bond changes the interchangeable nozzle on his barrel and starts firing! Boom Boom Boom Boom Bodies fly everywhere!

006, down below, behind the trucks, utters to himself, "Dammit, Bond."

006 suddenly rolls out from under a truck and starts shooting all the guards nearby.

Bond on his headpiece, says,

"004 – this is 007. Intercept General Clemente – he's on the east wing. We'll met you at the bridge – acknowledge.. 004 – acknowledge –"

006 attaches another huge nozzle to his rifle and fires a grenade from the tip into a large jeep full of guards – coming straight towards the agent. BBOOOMMM!!!

The jeep explodes and jumps in the air – bodies fly –

Bond taps in again –

"006 – there are three more jeeps moving in – get up here."

006

"On my way."

From Bond's point of view, we see 006 running… Bond attaches a huge grenade launcher nozzle and flips up a telescopic sight – then – BOOOOMM!!

A jeep jumps up into the air—exploding! 006 runs up the huge winding stairway – shooting guards on the way. Masked Elsa is seen running back down the stairway.

Suddenly, a huge brute of a guard jumps on Bond – the two parry for a bit. Bond is knocked down but the guard is shot down by the approaching 006. He helps Bond up, saying,

"What the hell happened to 004?"

Bond

"Get down!"

Masked Elsa suddenly appears, shooting from above – with the Abolisher. 006 points up and blasts a huge part of the walkway that Elsa is poised on. She falls with the debris, but hangs onto the edge of the two agents' walkway – an with gymnastic dazzle, pulls herself into the air and down into a ball in front of them.

She then pulls out a baton and extends it to a quarter staff – 006 runs in – she smacks him off his feet and begins shooting several mini blades from the end of the staff towards Bond. He rolls and dives out of the way. He then manages to kick her in the leg with the butt of a rifle.

Elsa then pulls out a huge knife; swinging it at him. He disarms her and the two roll into a drop. Rolling, Bond pulls the mask off her face readies a knife in the air – he stops to see a beautiful female Brazilian face looking back – searching; angered. The familiar face of a woman he knew. Elsa Espiranza.

006 gets back up. Suddenly several other troops come running into the scene – around the corner, shooting. Instead, Bond hurls the knife into the lead attacking troop. The soldier falls; several men fall over the body. 006 and Bond, now on their feet, turn and shoot cables towards another level of the building. The two agents fly off into the air. Elsa grabs a rifle from a troop and fires wildly. Both agents' cables are hit. They fall quicker towards a few large windows.

East wing. Behind huge windows, several armed troops are checking their rifles. General Clemente is on the phone. Masked Christo is at a window with a rifle – waiting.

A large sword is holstered at his side. There are also several knives on a belt across his chest.

Clemente, still on the phone, says to Christo,

"They told me nobody knew of this facility … these paratroopers …

who are they? Americans?"

Christo, holding a walkie-talkie to his mask, says,

"No. British Intelligence. Assassins … specially trained assassins. Elsa – do you copy? This is Christo. Did you intercept ? Repeat – did you intercept?"

CCRRRAAAASSSHHHH!!!!

006 and 007 suddenly smash through the huge windows – and roll into a crouch. Several small grenade smokers also are thrown from the agents. They explode into large clouds of green smoke. The two agents start firing at the surrounding troops. Several of them are hit and fall. 006 makes it over to the General, who is pulling out a nickel plated pistol out of his holster.

Meanwhile, 007 is fighting with Christo, who has pulled out two swords and swinging them at Bond – who keeps moving out of the way – then smashes a chair, using the legs as weapons; defending – hitting Christo in the sides and disarming the attacking swords.

006, killing a few troops first, walks over to the General, saying,

"General Clemente I presume …" he quickly disarms the General – knocking him to the floor – gun to the back of the head. He looks over to Bond. Bond is thrown into a huge table! SMAAASSHH!! It explodes on impact – out of Christo's sleeves come several dozen knives! He whips them all in quick succession at Bond, who dives behind a chair – the chair becomes covered in knives.

006 pulls out a pistol from his boot with his free hand and shoots one of Christo's hands(which was about to propel another series of knives). Christo pulls back, holding his arm in pain.

Bond runs and tackles Christo like a football player. Christo rolls with Bond – punches Bond a few times, then pushes him into a wall. Bond is pulled up by the collar – and Christo pulls off his own mask, revealing a scarred, skeletal face – he says,

"Bond – I can tell by your fighting techniques … I've waited three years for this moment. I rose from the ashes you left behind … Vienna … remember? Lt. Commander Christo .. Black Sun Army … let me 'jog' your memory –"

Suddenly, several more troops run through the green smoke – shooting their rifles. 006 runs over to a smashed window, away from the General. He looks down to see several canvas top trucks far below. Bond grabs Christo by the shoulders and head butts the killer – who drops, stunned. Shots are still being fired – the General gets to his feet, yelling,

"Stop them! Stop them!"

Bond quickly grabs his own rifle and attaches the last grenade launcher to the nozzle.

006

"It's no good, Bond. Abort."

Bond

"Without Clemente?"

006

"We don't get him this time."

Bond aims the launcher at the General –

006

"Bond –"

Bond

"Then nobody gets him."

BOOOOMMMM!!! Clemente's eyes widen – Christo is seen diving out the door and flying down a flight of stairs, rolling – huge fiery explosions blast out the windows and engulf the entire room! Two masked figures are seen diving out of the exploding windows and down onto the canvas tops of the trucks below.

The two agents jump off the top of the truck and into a small band of troops below. Shots are fired – judo chops thrown.

006

"Bond – take the wheel – get us to the bridge."

Bond opens the front door – karate chop to the driver – who is pulled out of the cab. Then Bond jumps in and starts the engine.

006 jumps up on top of the roof of the truck. The truck starts peeling out of the scene – several troops have also jumped into other trucks and jeeps and follow in hot pursuit. Out of a smoking doorway at the bottom of the exploded building – unmasked, is Christo, running out – smoke billowing from his body. A large jeep suddenly pulls up next to him. It's Elsa behind the wheel. He looks at her.

On the road to the bridge, Bond inside, switching gears, taps his ear – saying,

"004 – report status – 004 –"

Suddenly another voice –

"007 – this is Shadow Squad ready for immediate evac – we're five minutes away from the bridge. Do you copy?"

Bond

"Copy that. Maybe that explains the other chopper in the area."

Pilot

"Other chopper?"

A masked 004 is seen climbing over the back portion of the truck. He makes it to the top – gun in hand, walking up to the crouched 006. 006, startled, gets up, saying,

"004 – where the hell have you been?"

004

"Watching …. Like a patient spider."

Suddenly the gun is raised – BANG! 006 is shot and thrown back by the force of close range. He falls – BANG! Bond looks into the left mirror. 004 looks over to the mirror from the top –BANG! Shoots the mirror!

Bond taps,

"006 – report – 006 –"

Suddenly an upside – down shadow appears in the windshield -- a gloved fist smashes through the glass and grabs Bond by the collar. He is yanked out of the seat – and pulled onto the hood outside!

A few jeeps are alongside the truck on the road now – Bond notices Elsa driving one of them. She jumps up on the side and into the cab of the truck – regaining control of the steering wheel while Bond and Christo wrestle on the hood.

A few good chops are landed – Bond climbs to the top of the truck where 006 is supposed to be. Christo follows. He pulls out two large funky daggers – swinging. Bond turns to see 006 on his back – chest bloody – his hand reaching for Bond. Christo looks up to see Bond's chopper above –

Bond sees the bridge up ahead. Shots are fired at the chopper from the troops below in their jeeps. A couple of snipers perched in the chopper above return fire. One jeep is hit hard – drives into another jeep –BOOM!! A line/cable-harness is lowered for Bond and 006. The pilot's voice,

"Bond – this is Shadow Squad – take the line – get the hell out of there!"

Christo swings his daggers like a maniac – Bond dodging – his chest and arm gets sliced. A few chops are landed to the arms and face – kick to the leg – Bond grabs a long dagger from Christo's belt and the two start swinging their blades at each other -- finally, Bond's dagger is snapped out of his hand.. He turns to see 006, still on his back, tossing a cylinder shaped device with a light on it towards Bond. He goes to grab it –

Pilot's voice –

"The detonator, Bond – blow the bridge!"

Instead, Christo jumps into the air and grabs the cylinder in a dive, but Bond tackles him; grabbing a dropped blade from the roof of the truck and suddenly rams it as hard as he can into Chrito's arm – impaling the arm to the roof of the truck –pinning the arm!

"AGGGHHH!!"

A harness is dropped on a line – Bond moves over to 006 and straps it on him. A thumb is raised – his injured body is pulled up quickly. Suddenly more shots are fired around Bond – he sees that more troops are climbing up the sides of the truck. Bond turns and sees the bridge just up ahead – closing fast.

"Blow the bridge, Bond!"

Bond turns quickly, throwing down a smoke grenade towards the oncoming troops. Green smoke is everywhere. He then runs – diving off the truck. The bridge now approaches – Christo and Elsa watch as Bond has grabbed onto one of the chopper's legs and is holding the detonator up – turns the cap and presses down on the top – the red light turns green on the cylinder and suddenly –KA – BOOOOMMM!!! The bridge explodes to a million pieces – Elsa dives out of the jeep and makes her fall into a nearby tall tree. Christo screams in terror as his truck plummets far below to the rocks with all the other vehicles!

They all explode! BOOOM BOOOM BOOOOM

Bond is helped up into the chopper by other men in uniform – he finally pulls off his own mask for the first time to reveal bruises and blood trickling down one side of his face –his dark hair fluttering in the snapping wind of the chopper. He pulls out his own colour –coordinated detonator and turns the cap – looking out the back of the chopper.

The stilt house/facility and compound explodes into huge splinters of debris! BOOOMM!!BBOOOMMMMM!!!BBBOOOMM!!!

Elsa, back in the tree, jumps down to the ground watching the fiery explosions back at the facility and at the bridge. She turns and looks up at the fleeing chopper – hate in her eyes.

In the chopper, Bond moves over to 006, pulling off the other man's mask. Blood on the chest … A medic is working on closing the wounds. He looks up at Bond.

Bond

"Ian – did you see a face? Did you hear a voice? Anything? Ian –"

The medic working on 006, says,

"It doesn't look good, Bond. Whoever they were – they knew precisely where to hit him …"

Bond

"With almost Double – O precision?"

Medic

"If not better …"

Ian grabs Bond's hand, saying,

"Bond – thanks for getting me out …. I owe you a drink – vodka martini, isn't it?"

Bond

"Ian – did he say anything to you?"

Bond leans closer – Ian whispers,

"You … were right …. Guess I was … getting too old for this nonsense …"

Bond

"Ian – Ian –"

Another agent close by,

"He's gone." Bond looks up. Then says,

"This other chopper you were talking about –"

"We couldn't reach them …. Tried every frequency."

Bond

"Our trap was sprung …. By somebody else ….who …"

Another agent moves in, saying,

"007 – Colonel Cosgrove is on the Blue Line .. with several questions."

Bond turns, looking over his shoulder,

"Tell him I have a few of my own."

OPENING CREDITS