Moonraker script

1st Draft 22/1/03 Part Two

Sc4

Staff Garage, back of the building, A mechanic is working on Bond’s Bentley as Bond walks in.
Mechanic
Superchargers whining a bit sir, I’ll need to take it down tomorrow, if you won’t be needing her at lunchtime.
Bond
Thanks, that’ll be fine.
Bond gets in car and drives off

END OF SCENE

Sc5

Bond is shown reading a book at his desk at home, he leans forward an places the book and a pack of cards on the desk, the book is shown to read ‘Scorne’s wonderful guide to cheating’. Bond walks to his bedroom and fills his cigarette case and places a white handkerchief in each pocket. He checks that his cheque book is in his suit case and lights a cigarette.
END OF SCENE

Sc6

Bond parks his car outside a shop with the sign ‘BROOKS’S.

END OF SCENE

Sc7

Bond pushes through the swinging door and walks up to the Porters counter.
Bond
Evening Brevett, is the admiral in?
Brevett
Good evening sir, the admiral is waiting up stairs. Page take Commander Bond up stairs to the admiral in the card room, post haste.

Bond follows the page upstairs to the huge card room. The room is not crowded, Bond spots M playing patience by himself in an alcove.
Bond
Thank you.
Bond tips the Page, Bond moves towards M.
M
There you are.
Waves Bond over.
M
Just let me finish this game, care for a drink?
Bond
No thanks.
Bond lights a cigarette and watches M, M gives up in frustration and throws the cards down.
M
How about a game of Piquet.
Bond
Sure.
M
[signals to waiter] Waiter!
The waiter come to the table.

M
Piquet cards please
The waiter goes away and returns with two thin packs of cards.
M
Bring me a whisky and soda, [to Bond], sure you don’t want anything? 
Bond
Ok, I’ll have a dry Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred.
That waiter goes away to get the drinks.
M
Now I’ll just take a pound of you then we’ll go and have a look at bridge, Sir Hugo hasn’t arrived yet.

END OF SCENE (ad break)
Sc8

30 minutes has passed, Bond and M are still sitting at the table.
M
One of these days I’m going to take some trouble and really learn Piquet, I’ve never won against you yet.
M finishes his Whiskey and Soda in one gulp.
M
Let’s Go over and see what’s going on at the bridge table, Hugo is playing at Basildon’s table, he came in about 10 minutes ago. If you notice anything, give me a nod.
M gets up, Bond follows, they walk through the now filling-up room over to the bridge table that Drax is at.
Red-haired man (Drax)
[loud voice] Double, damn you.
Bond looks over straight away, sitting next to Drax is Lord Basildon.
Basildon
My hand is so exquisite that I am forced to redouble my dear Drax
Basildon looks over at his partner, Tommy Dangerfield.
Basildon
Tommy, charge this to me if it goes wrong.
Drax’s Partner (Meyer)
No bid.
Tommy
No bid here.
Drax
And Nothing here.
Basildon
Five clubs redoubled, your lead Meyer
Bond looks over Drax’s shoulder, he has ace of spades and ace of hearts. Drax makes them both and leads another heart, which Basildon takes on the table with the king.
Basildon
Well there are four trumps against me, including the queen. I shall play Drax to have her.
Basildon finesses against Drax. Meyer takes the trick with the queen.
Basildon
Hell and Damn nation, what’s the queen doing in Meyer’s hand, well I’m damned. Anyway the rest are mine.
Basildon look over at Tommy.
Basildon
Can you beat it Tommy?
Drax doubles and Meyer has the queen. Drax chuckles.
Drax
Didn’t expect my partner to have a Yarborough, did you? Well, that’s just the four hundred above the line, your deal.
Drax cuts the cards to Basildon and the game continues.
M
You remember my friend Commander Bond, Basil. I thought we’d come along an play some bridge tonight.
Basildon looks at Bond
Basildon
Evening.
Basildon waves his hand around the table, left to right.
Basildon
Meyer, Dangerfield, Drax.
The men look up briefly at Bond, Bond nods towards the table in general.
Basildon
You all know the Admiral.
Drax half turns towards M.
Drax
Ah, the Admiral, good to have you aboard, Admiral, Drink?
M
No thanks, I just had one.
Drax turns to Bond and glances up at him.
[perfunctorily] How about you?
Bond
No thanks.
Drax turns back and picks up his cards. He sorts through them.

END OF SCENE (ad break)

Sc9

Everyone is still around the table.
Drax
My deal, game all and we have a satisfactory inflation above the line. Now then, Max see if you can pick up a few aces, I am tired of doing all the work.
Drax deals around the table.
Drax
[to M] Long rubber, sorry to have to keep you out so long, how about I challenge you after dinner. Max and I’ll take on you and Commander thingummy, what did you say your name was?
Bond
Bond, James Bond.
Drax
So how about it Bond?
Bond
Fine with me. [to M] How about showing me the betting book before dinner, you always say it’ll amuse me.
M
[nodding] Yes, come along. It is in the secretary’s office.
Basildon gets up.
Basildon
[to M] Order what you want, I’ll be down directly after we’ve polished these fellers off.
Bond follows M out of the room.

END OF SCENE

Sc10

Bond and M walk down the stairs to the secretary office. M turns on the light and sits down behind the desk, he looks at Bond.
M
Any luck?
Bond
Yes, he cheats alright.
M
Ah, how does he do it?
Bond
Only on the deal, you know the cigarette case he has in front of him?
M
Yes.
Bond
Well he never takes cigarettes from it. Doesn’t want to get fingerprints on the surface. It’s highly polished. When he deals, it is concealed by the cards and his big hands. Every card gets reflected in the top of the case. You remember I told you about shiners?
M
Yes.
Bond
Well this is one version of them, it is just like a mirror. Knowing all the cards on the fourth deal is a terrific edge, not surprising he always shows a profit.
M
But one doesn’t notice him doing it.
Bond
It is quite natural to look down when dealing.
The door opens, Basildon walks in shutting the door behind him.
Basildon
Well Miles, has your friend got the answer?
Bond
Yes, he uses a shiner, the cigarette case
Basildon
Of course, I don’t know why I didn’t spot it earlier. Damn the man, why does he want top cheat anyway, he is a bloody millionaire. I can’t have a scandal. Miles what am I to do?
Bond
[interjecting] Well I could show him I’d spotted him and at the same time flay the hide of him hat his own game.
Basildon
Could you really do that?
Bond
Well, I could but Meyer would get hurt in the process.
Basildon
Server him right, he has been riding of Drax’s back for years…you don’t think?
Bond
No, I am quite sure Meyer doesn’t know that Drax is cheating. Well sir?
M
All right, what must be done, must be done. I don’t like the idea, but I can see Basildon’s point, are you sure you can pull it off
Bond
Positive, All I need is a couple of packs of cards, one blue, one red, and ten minutes in here alone.

END OF SCENE

© 2003