[Quick Summary: After Russians have stolen plans for the Goldeneye weapons program, Bond must stop them.]
Generally, I don't tend to read early drafts unless:
1) There are no other drafts available; and/or
2) I'm particularly interested in how the writer(s) solved problems.
Today's script meet both of these criteria. It was written by Michael France, who eventually received "story by" credit on the final film.
BEST THING OF THIS EARLY DRAFT: It lays out the dynamic between Bond and an antagonist Trevelyan, who defected to Russia. Not much motive, stakes.
BEST THING THAT LATER DRAFTS DID: The writers upped Trevelyan from mere 'defector' to 006 and added a betrayal which increased motive and stakes.
Now Trevelyan is agent 006 --> he and Bond team up for a botched mission --> Bond thinks 006 is dead --> 006 survives, works for Russia, comes after Bond.
You can see how a baseline antagonism in the scene below (early draft) would be heightened by the addition of a personal betrayal (later draft):
EXT. AN OUTER PART OF THE PALACE - BOND
...BOND
walks toward Trevelyan, regaining his aplomb as he does. Two things are crystal clear. One is that bond want to kill this man very much. The other is that it's taking all his self-discipline to avoid attempting it here.
Trevelyan, on the other hand, wears the smirking armor of a man who feels he's already decisively vanquished his opponent.
BOND: Augustus Trevelyan --
TREVELYAN (indicates reception): I'll miss this particular struggle -- won't you, James? As Frederick the Great once said -- "Diplomacy without armaments is like music without instruments." (points to Kremlin wall) Now that it's over, I can tell you -- part of my charade is that I'm buried right over there -- three plots down from Khrushchev. Seems childish now. (offers his hand) You are surprised to find me still alive, I suppose?
BOND: More than that -- I'm delighted. (doesn't take hand) It's always been a great disappointment to me that I wasn't able to kill you personally.
Trevelyan laughs genuinely, as is this were a bon mot instead of the very real threat it is. He withdraws his hand.
TREVELYAN: Don't be ridiculous, Bond. It was a schoolboy's game that we played a long time ago. Two empires, battling to change the world. The battle is over -- (gestures around) -- and it seems to me that the world has not changed so much for it. Now, men like you and I look for new games. That is all.
BOND (with quiet contempt): Is that how you live with betrayal and murder, Trevelyan? By calling it a game?
New Trevelyan seems genuinely disappointed in Bond.
TREVELYAN: That question is beneath both of us, James. I might as well ask yo if the vodka martinis ever completely still the voices of all the men you've killed. (still conversational) OR if you ever find forgiveness, in the arms of all those women, for the one that you failed to protect (dismissing him) My conscience is clean, James. Yours, I think, is rather crowded.
Bond's fury is silent -- controlled -- but unmistakable --
BOND: Certainly there's room for one more --
TREVELYAN (ice): Please, James, no embarrassing bravado, no vows to kill me -- you had your opportunity some time ago. (starting a certainty) You won't get another.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I liked how the writers turned the Trevelyan character from a mere villain to one who has real personal issues with Bond.
He was one of many (early draft) and became a stand out (later drafts).
Goldeneye (1995)(1st draft, 1/94)
by Michael France
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