[Quick Summary: When S.P.E.C.T.R.E steals American nuclear warheads, Bond investigates.]
THREE THOUGHTS:
1) HISTORY. For those who might not know this film's history, it's another adaption of the book Thunderball, and one of two Bond films not produced by EON Productions.
2) BORED? Having read 5 other EON produced scripts, I find this one lacks ...heart? Despite the danger, quips, gadgets, Bond feels mechanical, and uh, bored?
3) GOOD VILLAIN. However, this script does have a good villain, Fatima, a S.P.E.C.T.R.E. henchman, who has Jack, an American, in her clutches.
In the scene below:
- I felt real emotion for poor Jack as I see him suffer (vs. being told of it).
- Fatima holds the upper hand on his life (via his drug addiction) and his sister's life (real stakes).
- Fatima identifies his weaknesses and uses them against him. This is one reason why we don't like her and she's a good villain.
INT. JACK'S ROOM - SHRUBLANDS - NIGHT
JACK sits on the BED. With shaking hands he reaches inside a SMALL OVERNIGHT BAG and takes out a pack of CIGARETTES and a small box of wooden MATCHES. His hands continue to shake as he struggles to ignite the match. Finally, it burns.
He inhales deeply. Beads of sweat are on his forehead. He inhales again; he beings to cough and shake. Hearing a sound from the corridor he quickly pitches the CIGARETTE into the fireplace and hides the cigarette PACK and MATCHES under the MATTRESS. [The smoking = addicted to cigarettes. The sweating = likely addicted to some kind of drug.]
FATIMA enters. She stops short; locking the DOOR, she sniffs the air. JACK, his back to her, coughs weakly, unable to control himself. [His poor physical condition gives him away.]
FATIMA: Baby's been smoking again.
She slowly approaches JACK and turns his face to hers.
FATIMA (staring down at him): Baby was ordered not to smoke. Smoking is dirty, it gets into baby's eye. [This baby talk is creepy.]
She suddenly yanks off the HEAD BANDAGE. It's METAL CLIP taking away a tuft of JACK'S hair and making him yell with pain. he bursts into a spasm of coughs and begins to hyperventilate. [Pulling of the hair is a good visceral detail.]
FATIMA: If baby wants his fix....
She takes a hypo needle attached to her thigh (garter belt). [Showing the audience her dominance.]
JACK takes a deep breath quieting his coughs.
FATIMA (continuing): Baby must do what he is told if baby wants his fast cars and pretty clothes, if baby wants to keep his sister alive, then baby's got to pay the price.
Suddenly violent, JACK rises and pushes FATIMA back, attacking her.
JACK: You leave DOMINO out of this.... [Jack still has fight in him! I root for you, Jack!]
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I liked that I knew exactly what Fatima wants, and how far she is willing to go (both physical and psychological).
I also like that her approach, though creepy, is unusual.
Never Say Never Again (1983)(dated Dec., 1982)
by Lorenzo Semple, Jr.
Original story by Kevin McClory & Jack Whittingham & Ian Fleming
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