Bond, on the phone, looks at his watch and says,

"I expected your customary 'good luck call' two hours ago, Felix. It must be three in the morning in Langley … the CIA doesn't allow you to eat or sleep anymore?"

Felix is at a phone at an airport – he says,

"I'm calling from New York, actually. Wrapping up a job here. This is an unofficial

call – just reminding you to make sure your bullet hits the right target. If Fong gets the wrong bullet – it's gonna get pretty hot around here. The boys upstairs are gonna want your head on a platter. Comprendez vous?"

Bond

"Loud and clear, Mr. Leiter. Thank you for your words of encouragement."

Bond suddenly notices a slight noise at the front door – the doorknob starts to rotate.

Bond starts walking to the front door, holding the phone, then says,

"Just remind your 'boys upstairs' to have a large case of brandy ready for me when I get back. Vintage: 1929 – the only one missing in my collection."

Felix

"What collection? I thought you drank all your stock. One case will be enough?"

Bond

"One should be fine. Thanks for the call, Felix."

Felix

"Good luck, bud."

Click. Bond suddenly pulls open the front door, wraps the phone cord around the hand reaching in(with gun in hand) and yanks hard – the gun flies in the air. Bond then pulls the intruder into the hallway and tosses him into the air. The intruder smashes into a table and lamp! CRAAAASSHH Two other intruders run in suddenly, black men – Bond takes them both on – chops are landed – guns clatter to the floor. One more black man is pulled in and chopped – then thrown into a wall.

Bond finally pulls out his own gun, rolls the last man onto his stomach – knee behind the neck – then Bond says,

"Who sent you – one name or one bullet –"

The man on the floor, says,

"Bond – it's me – Kananga – think back – two years ago – Kenya …"

Bond turns him around, holstering his gun. He says,

"Kananga … yes … Grey Cloud Organization …" Kananga says,

"Defunct… thanks to your department."

Bond

"Now you're a hit man for hire … and these men are with you?"

They both look over to the other three beaten men who are slowly rising to their feet. Kananga tells them, "Wait outside."

The start for the door; one of them turns to Bond and says,

"Sorry about the mess, Mr. Bond." They exit.

Kananga

"You saved my life in Kenya, remember?"

Bond

"Your brother saved mine. He took that shot in the shoulder. How is he?"

Kananga

"Dead. Killed by a real professional."

Bond

"I'm sorry, Kananga. Who was it?" Passing a filled glass --

Kananga

"Have you ever heard of the Red Raven Society?"

Bond

"Yes … an underground cult of mercenaries … assassins."

Kananga

"One of them – a real loose cannon … disguised as a priest – has been freelancing for SPEKTRE. I think he did it. Watch out for him. I think they might be sending him to Singapore tomorrow."

Bond

"What about you? The hit for Page must be worth millions."

Kananga

"I was thinking about it. Your department can have him. I want the priest."

Kananga walks over to the door and opens it – then says,

"If you happen upon this killer priest – bring what's left of him alive – I'll call it even. Oh – there's a Rolls Royce out here – a lady asking for directions to your residence."

Bond

"Tell me she's not Brazilian."

He looks out and sees a beautiful blonde in her early forties draped in a huge mink coat climbing out of the back of a Rolls. Her driver helps her out.

She meets Kananga at the front steps and says to him,

"Thank you, Mr. Kananga." He kisses her hand, saying,

"Enchante, Madame." He exits the scene. She says to Bond,

"Nice man. You have interesting friends, James."

Bond

"Erica – it's good to see you, but this is very inappropriate."

Erica

"Can I just have a few minutes –"

Bond

"I think I can spare that."

She walks in to the front hallway. He closes the door. She looks down and notices the smashed table and other debris. Bond says,

"May I take your coat?"

Erica walks over and picks up a glass full of alcohol – then says,

"You were there for me, James. You were there to listen." He walks in closer, saying,

"What happened, Erica?" "Nothing."

"Is that a new bruise under your right eye? I thought you were going to leave him."

Erica

"I did. Last month … I filed for divorce. That was the best advice you ever gave me. I feel so – free. So liberated. Did you understand the meaning behind the postcard?"

Bond

"Cosgrove hated Paris – you said before that if you ever left him – you'd fly around the world. Paris would be first." Pause. They study each other.

She takes a sip, staring at him. Bond says,

"He was always a damn fool – never knew what he had. He's leading us on a special mission tomorrow .. for the Orient. You should leave … if he learns you were here …"

She takes another sip and says,

"I came here to thank you. Would you deny me that?" "No."

Erica opens the coat slightly to reveal a bare chest and then pours the bourbon there. It trickles down her cleavage. He looks at her up and down. She says,

"Am I too old?" He steps in closer and holds her collar, saying,

"You're like fine wine, Erica. A vintage I would take all night exploring its pleasures."

Erica

"You can take my coat now."

She steps back and pulls the coat off. It falls to the floor. He looks at her with a devilish grin and sees that all she had on under that large coat was a pearl necklace around her neck and high heels. She turns and faces the other way. Still holding her drink, she takes another sip. Bond surrenders finally to temptation and steps in, fiercely grabbing her by the arms, spinning her back towards him – face to face – and kisses her lips with hunger – then lowers towards her glistening chest, below the necklace. She looks up, eyes closed –

The glass drops to the floor – breaking into several pieces.

Flashback scene – almost ten years ago.

Bond is lying, shirtless, on his back in a bed – pillows behind him. He's smoking s cigar – sheets up to his waist. He is on the phone. A brunette woman's naked back is lying on her

side, beside him – leaning on her elbow. Her hair is long and wavy.

Bond

"Next Thursday … thank you, sir. I will. Yes, sir – I have all the files. The assignment was a success. No sir – no trouble. Thank you, sir." click

He hangs up the phone. He then starts smoking from the cigar, saying,

"That was M's office…" The leaning mystery woman beside him takes the cigar from him and starts smoking it. She says, "M?"

Bond

"Yes – head of M16 operations … they want to meet with me next week."

Still not seen, she says, "Regarding your double-o status confirmation I suppose." He looks at her. She sits up now – back still to the viewer, but her profile can now be seen. The mole near her bottom lip is visible – the face that belongs to Elsa Espiranza. Bond says,

"Elsa, I didn't ask for this."

Elsa

"But it's what you wanted … and what about us?"

Bond

"Intelligence is still looking for you … you could come back with me.

I could talk to them."

Elsa

"They wouldn't listen. Besides … I can't go back. I have – other obligations."

She gets up from the bed, throwing a robe on; tying the belt around her waist.

Bond, still sitting on the bed, says,

"You mean other contracts. I had plans for us, Elsa."

Still smoking the cigar, Elsa turns and says,

"That was years ago, James. I've changed a lot since Cambridge. So have you.

Passion is all we have now …"

Bond

"And that's not enough … is it?"

Elsa

"You and I are not the marrying types, James. That's not meant for us. Although, I have to say that if any man ever did come close – it was you."

Bond

"Elsa – don't do this. You're a good person."

Elsa

"No. I'm not … and soon you won't be either. In three weeks or less, you will be a dispassionate killing machine with only the instinct for survival to keep you moving. "She turns and looks out the window and sees several cars pulling up –

Lights flashing in the night. Men with guns are suddenly jumping out of the cars and running to the building. Elsa throws on a large trench coat and grabs a suitcase – she says,

"They're here. You called them, didn't you?" She throws a hat and a scarf on quickly. Bond says,

"No, I didn't call them … not that you would believe me."

Elsa

"I suppose you would like me to thank you for making me feel desired … making me feel like a woman – one last time."

Bond finally gets up from the bed, saying,

"Elsa – I know about your next contract. He's a double-o agent, isn't he?"

She pauses. She looks at him. He says,

"I'm asking you not to do this."

Elsa

"Our work is who we are, James. It's what we do. I take orders … so do you.

Suppose your very first contract as a double-o involves an old flame named Elsa Espiranza, a dangerous contract assassin? Would you admit to knowing her intimately? You're not trained to hesitate. You're not trained to answer to your conscience."

Bond

"When that day comes – will you pull the trigger – or will I?"

Pause. Then she moves closer to the window, saying,

"We'll have to see."

She maneuvers through the window like an alley cat and vanishes.

Bond goes to the window and looks down the fire escape – then up – no sign of her.

Bond turns, angered – he sees his own reflection in a large rectangular mirror across the room. Furious, he picks up the television set from its stand and hurls it across the room at the mirror! CCCRRRAAAASSSHHH!!!

The mirror shatters – falling into pieces – leaving an enormous

tear/buckle in the wall. Fade to black.

Bond flickers his eyes. The fog clears. He is standing at a counter in a small passenger plane. The plane carries a two - person crew, four double-o agents and Col. Cosgrove.

Bond is brought back to the present abruptly by 008 – holding a cup of tea for Bond. He says quietly,

"Bond – Bond – Here's that tea you were asking about. Orange Pekoe .. I'm afraid it's all they had. Cosgrove had the wet bar remove from the plane. Ask me if I'm surprised."

Bond takes the cup and says,

"Thank you, Andrews."

008

"Are you all right, old man?"

Bond

"Just a little … preoccupied."

008

"Careful now. This mission is supposed to be working as a well – oiled machine, remember? Absolute focus. Absolute attention to detail."

Bond

"Absolutely." Bond looks out one of the small windows.

008 follows and says behind him,

"It was a woman, wasn't it?"

Bond

"What?"

008

"You were thinking of a woman … the one you left behind …

so you could move forward with your career."

Bond

"You're good."

008

"I'm the best."

Bond

"I didn't think it looked that obvious."

008

"It doesn't… but I do recognize the look.

They say each man carries a secret pain."

Bond

"Andrews – don't you ever stop and think about what kind of life you would've had if –"

008

"Sometimes. Not as much as I used to. Why the sudden moralizing? You've been an agent almost as long as I have."

Bond

"I don't know."

008

"Yes, you do. It's the woman, isn't it?"

Bond

"You have no regrets. This is who you are … for King and country."

008

"Well – I was almost married once. It seems like a hundred years ago, now. She was so beautiful – but I was seduced by the monster … and finally became one of them. Yes, for King and country." Bond studies him.

008 looks out the nearest window and continues,

"I watch her drive out of her home in Manchester … every morning with her husband. Yes, she had moved on. I watch them drop their children off at school. I watch them hold hands. She looks happy … fulfilled." Pause. Bond watches him. 008 continues,

"That could've been my family. She's all I ever wanted."

Bond

"You also wanted this career. To work for British Intelligence.

Why did the career win? "

Pause again. Then -- 008 says,

"I don't remember."

The two agents walk towards their seats. 0010 sipping a cup, says out loud,

"This tea is dreadful… Colonel, can we possibly bother the stewardess for some brandy – in a rather large glass?"

Cosgrove, walking by, says,

"There are no stewardesses."

0010 to himself,

"I wonder if there are any pilots …"

0012, nearby, reading some files, seated, starts snickering.

Then -- a voice,

"Gentlemen, we're starting to descend… Initiate landing procedures, please. Extinguish all cigarettes."

008 sits down. So does 0010. Bond steps past Cosgrove, quietly saying,

"Colonel …. I need a word …"

Cosgrove

"We're landing, Bond. Take your seat, please."

Bond

"Erica came to see me last night." Pause. Cosgrove studies Bond.

Bond

"Your ex-wife …"

Cosgrove

"Indeed. So you're the man that has been lending an ear … offering advice … and God knows what else. I suspected it was someone in the department."

Bond

"I thought perhaps you could explain the new bruise under her right eye?"

Cosgrove

"Use caution, 007. That is personal and privileged information I share with no one … and it's not what you think."

Bond

"I'm listening."

008 rises out of his seat in the background, saying,

"Gentlemen … they're starting to descend. Perhaps you didn't hear –"

Cosgrove

"I want your focus on this mission – where it is needed. One 'brush fire' at a time, 007.

Bond

"I'll follow your orders, Colonel … for now.

But this particular discussion is far from over."

The two men step in closer. Cosgrove says,

"I don't approve of veiled threats, Bond."

Bond

"And I don't approve of men who beat women – married or otherwise."

Cosgrove

"I heard you say to 004 that sometimes you get confused. I hope you weren't referring to sides, 007. With so many bullets whizzing around – one can become confused rather quickly." Pause. Bond then says,

"Now who's threatening who, Colonel?"

008

"Gentlemen –"

Cosgrove walks by Bond, then turns, saying,

"By the way, we brought along your paratrooper outfit … mask and all … its dark characteristics and sniper attributes can be useful for any tactical scenario."

Bond

"I agree … but I'll decide that for myself, Colonel."

Cosgrove

"Of course."

The small plane lands in a large clearing – within a shrouded forest – grey skies and pouring rain sets the scene. The five men exit the plane quickly -- bags, cases and all. Cosgrove salutes quickly to the pilot – he salutes too – then the plane turns and starts to take off again.

The five agents huddle in some bushes.

Cosgrove activates his ear transmitter, saying,

"Quiet Coyote – this is Cosgrove. The hired help is here. Repeat – the hired help is here.

Confirm phase two. Over." CRACKLE CRACKLE