57 replies to this topic

[James Page]

I've just noticed this posted on alt.fan.jamesbond and I thought I should bring it to everyone's attention as it not only extends the rumours on Bond20 (that most of us feel to be fan created), but also takes a public pop at CBN!

Check it out... It was posted to the newsgroup by
"Hessel Visser"
on Tue, 31 Jul 2001

---------------------------------

[White Persian]

db-4 (14 Aug, 2001 03:54 a.m.):


If they would like to make a memorable 40th Anniversary film, how about this -- do what you do, and do it well. That is: James Bond, straight up, with several babes worth remembering, the main one being as tough and resourceful as Bond, with a dynamic, unique villain, not too many gadgets, glamorous settings, a logical plot, some funny lines, and FUN !

Hear! Hear! Hope EON are listening.

[Blue Eyes]

Well I should be posting a bigger article tonight, if I get the chance after rehersals for 12th Night (yes I got cast in the role of Duke Orsino, how cool!! ). So stay tuned for it

I've decided however that I won't be publishing full scripts like Bond20.Com has. I don't think that's fair on a lot of people.

[db-4]

Of course the producers would want something special for the 40th Anniversary film, but the "Final Assignment" rumors reek. Using Connery to play Bond's father ? Even without Connery, saying Bond's father was an 00 agent ? This would turn Bond 20 into a soap opera, too much "For Fans Only." It would be like saying -- the films you saw early on had the real Bond, then we had some fun, and now with Pierce Brosnan you get to see the real Bond's son.

It would scream, therefore, that now we only make "Bond-lite" movies.

As if it were not bad enough, the villain's name is that of the all time big bad guy -- the devil ! How cute ! How awful !

If they would like to make a memorable 40th Anniversary film, how about this -- do what you do, and do it well. That is: James Bond, straight up, with several babes worth remembering, the main one being as tough and resourceful as Bond, with a dynamic, unique villain, not too many gadgets, glamorous settings, a logical plot, some funny lines, and FUN !

[Blue Eyes]

If this is all true then the person who sent it in to me has informed me it's not Ben Willcox (sp??) who wrote it. Look forward to a feature article sometime soon!

[zencat]

Congrats on 12th Night! Hey, isn't this how Timothy Dalton got started?

I think your decision to not post excerpts from screenplays is a good one. Especially excerpts from a movie which hasn't been released. And if this FINAL ASSIGNMENT script turns out to be genuine, then not posting it was DEFINETLY the right call. I think you would run the risk of getting on EON's bad side.

[007_Fanatic]

Sounds very complicated. I wouldn't mind it being something kind of personal for Bond himself, but not for the duration for the whole film. Maybe an assignment that's personal for Bond to be shown on the pre-title sequence, but not for the whole movie. For example: For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy and Goldfinger, the pre-title sequence had nothing to do with the actual plot for the rest of the film. They could do that again for Bond 20 if they wanted to.

[Blue Eyes]

zencat (07 Aug, 2001 06:15 p.m.):
Congrats on 12th Night! Hey, isn't this how Timothy Dalton got started?

Yes I believe so And thank you It's so hard to memorise all the correct phrases etc.... but I'll get there

I think your decision to not post excerpts from screenplays is a good one. Especially excerpts from a movie which hasn't been released. And if this FINAL ASSIGNMENT script turns out to be genuine, then not posting it was DEFINETLY the right call. I think you would run the risk of getting on EON's bad side.

That's mainly what I'm thinking of. I should have a comment very soon on it as some more news has appeard. This person apparently worked (I emphasise worked) recently for Danjaq. Do you think he got something thrown at him, or they discovered what he was doing?

[Blue Eyes]

It's true Dave!! It's true I tell you

[James Page]

Blue Eyes (08 Aug, 2001 12:24 a.m.):
This person apparently worked (I emphasise worked) recently for Danjaq. Do you think he got something thrown at him, or they discovered what he was doing?

They discovered what he was doing...

On the screenplay issue, yeah , I understand why you are not posting up the excerpts. I believe the general fan's reaction is the key to this - if they don't like what EON are doing, they'll turn to us. If they don't like what we're doing, they'll give up with EON. So I guess the best policy is to try and remain as level headed as possible, even though that can be mighty difficult sometimes! =) But as any webmaster knows, if you pick a fight with a fool - people would be forgiven for not noticing the difference (Bond20.com discussion boards anyone?)

We all know EON representives visit our sites, so we just need to try and keep everything as A-Political as possible as it is in everybody's best interests to get along.

=
J

[zencat]

Blue Eyes (06 Aug, 2001 11:28 p.m.):
If this is all true then the person who sent it in to me has informed me it's not Ben Willcox (sp??) who wrote it. Look forward to a feature article sometime soon!

Well, whatever this script is, it sounds like there's a story behind it and I look forward to hearing that story Blue Eyes.

I think that may be my final thought on Final Assignment.

[James Page]

"Following on from the exclusive news on the plot of Bond 20 - I can reveal
further details which will make you scream in excitement & horror... James
Bond dies in Bond 20!!! Yeah, right - you say and you'd be right - because
it is not for good - but only for a few minutes. In a fantastic and
literally heart wrenching scene from Final Assignment - the screenplay that
has been used as a basis for the final film - the main villian locks Bond
inside a tank and floods the tank with ice cold water. Bond cannot escape as
the freezing water rises and he is drowned in cold blood or cold water to be
more precise!!!! This is another link to the title Beyond The Ice that the
press have invented through hearsay. After he has drowned - his lifeless
body is pulled from the tank by a japanese villain called Mr. Shoka -
pronounced Show Car or in one of Bond's one liners in the film - Shocker -
and Bond is revived. He is literally brought back from the dead using a drug
and electricity to the heart.

Forced by the villain to watch Bond go through this ordeal is Catherine
McCallister who is the leading lady of the movie. McCallister is the
daughter of 008 - who dies in the opening sequence of the film. She herself
is a 00 agent and has taken over her fathers number - in the same way that
Bond took over his own fathers number of 007 as we find out as the film
progresses. However, there is conflict right from the start with Bond and
this woman. . . as we as the audience know it was Bond who killed her
father!!! A rogue spy - 008 is used to steal information from MI6. The
information he steals is a list of all 00 agents and their whereabouts. The
information also contains family history on all British Secret Service
agents and in the opening sequence - Bond has no choice but to kill him in a
fight to the death. This creates an interesting scenario as Bond and 008's
daughter work together to find the person responsible for using 008 to steal
the information from MI6.

We follow them as Bond himself breaks into MI6's own computer database using
a virtual reality Q to help him. Q has programmed MI6's database with
captions of his own voice...... enabling him to still say GROW UP 007!! This
is a fantastic way of honouring the late Desmond Llewellyn - by still
keeping him alive through his voice!!! Q retires in this movie gracefully -
we don't see him go - Bond is just told by R that he has become the new
Quartermaster - thereby enabling Q to carry on in our hearts rather than
dying on screen. He has also left Bond a few surprises along the way as we
will discover.

The plot also reveals that other agents from various organisations around
the world are either being abducted or murdered by the main villian in the
film. These include not only the British Secret Service but also the. . .
FBI - CIA & Interpol. Finally - for all you Bond addicts - I can also reveal
a few of the characters names in Bond 20. Here are the bad guys for your
perusal!!!

A villianess named Divine Rapture. Japanese martial arts villian - Mr.
Shoka - who kills people using an electrified cheesewire. David Saten -
Nigel Haver's character & finally Cameron Hunter who is could be played by
the scottish comedian Billy Connoly!!!

There is more information on the plot to come - but for now - especially for
Bond20.com members - please see two excerpts of the screenplay for Final
Assignment to wet your appetite for the final result in 2002 - when we will
see Bond fight a very personal battle - for not only MI6 and his families
name but also for the protection of the free world!!!

A few words about CommanderBond.net who seems to be so sure that this
information I provided you with has been invented by me that he has
dedicated an entire chapter to finding supposed holes in my news. FACT -
CommanderBond.net is full of rumours. FACT - They can have their own
theories..... but the truth is this - FACT - Bond20.Com is sure this
screenplay exists

[Blue Eyes]

James Page (08 Aug, 2001 12:56 a.m.):
We all know EON representives visit our sites, so we just need to try and keep everything as A-Political as possible as it is in everybody's best interests to get along.

Exactly! Everyone has to be kept happy

[zencat]

One of the things I really like about CB.N is that it doesn't get into petty pissing matches with other web sites. I don't get their slam. I've no doubt that a Bond script called "Final Assignment" exists. But I think it's more likely a fan script than Bond 20 because it, frankly, sounds kind of BAD.

Who knows, maybe I'll be proven wrong in November 2002.

[The Admiral]

lol

[James Page]

Yeah, it would seem that Bond20.com have thrown their rattle out of the pram now that the world is wise to the "quality" of their material.

For those of you who can't get the the alt.fa.jamesbond newsgroup, here's my public reply to Mr Visser:

----------------------------------------------------
>"Following on from the exclusive news on the plot of Bond 20
Exclusive rumour on Bond 20


... more fantasy rumour...


> Additionnal information: the villianess Divine Rapture is trained to be an
> extremely deadly killer. She is physically capable of killing Bond and is
> skilled in kick boxing - hence the producers have been looking for a female
> who is quite capable of being not only a good kicker but boxer as well!!!!

It was I who originally spotted the boxing lnk between the women
rumoured to be having screentests (that is now all over the place).
How gracious of you to work that theory into your leak.

>A few words about CommanderBond.net who seems to be so sure that this
>information I provided you with has been invented by me that he has
>dedicated an entire chapter to finding supposed holes in my news. FACT -
>CommanderBond.net is full of rumours. FACT - They can have their own
>theories..... but the truth is this - FACT - Bond20.Com is sure this
>screenplay exists & to prove it - here is more info and e x c e r p t s f r
>o m t h e s c r i p t i t s e l f ! ! !"

Sounds like a bad case of sour grapes. From my experience, the CBN
forums have always treated such speculation with a more than average
dose of salt. Surely a responsible way to test such material is to
hold it up to the light and see how many holes are in it? Or do you
seriously think people swallow this kind of story?

If your stories were true, I'd have thought you would have replied to
the acusations in a more mature manner.

FACT - It's a shame Bond20.com takes this kinda crap seriously.

=
J

[zencat]

All I gotta say is I really hope this ISN'T the plot to Bond 20 because it just sounds too convoluted, too personal, too much of a fan fantasy that will make general audiences say, "Where's the mega villain in a volcano?"

But this IS the direction the PB movies have been going and I remember at first thinking the plot to TWINE sounded too personal and convoluted... And there are a few locations and characters revealed here that me sit up and take notice...

Gosh, I just don't know. I'm spooked by this. If this IS Bond 20...I hope it's better than it sounds.

[James Page]

I hear what you're saying... I too hope Bond20 is nothing like this.

If you think you can bear it, there's more at:
http://bond20.the007...info/script.txt



=
J

[James Page]

-

[Boldman]

Me too. I hate it when they try to make the films something they're not.

[Blue Eyes]

Would anyone like me to post an excerpt from the script that Bond20.com do not have?

[licence_to_ill]

Maybe this is the plot and maybe it is not. I am keeping an eye on JamesBond.com to be sure it is not fake. It sounds like a 007 story except for the part about Q's voice being in the lab. Sounds to Star-Trekkie for me.

[zencat]

zencat (01 Aug, 2001 08:26 p.m.):
Of course, maybe I know who you are... I believe I still owe you a scotch..?

Whoops! You're not who I thought you were, Diamond. But my offer of margaritas and Bond 20 talk still stands.

[Diamond]

Blue Eyes (31 Jul, 2001 02:44 a.m.):
Would anyone like me to post an excerpt from the script that Bond20.com do not have?

Go 4 it!!! Whilst news like this can be taken with a pinch of salt - it has made for some interesting discussion!!! Also, Blue Eyes - it's amazing how everyone on here has said that even though they feel this is fan based - they like parts of these rumours!!! If only, we had some kind of way of knowing if EON wanted to go in this direction on the next film!!!

I think I will do some investigating out here in L.A.

[Diamond]

[quote]James Page (31 Jul, 2001 12:27 a.m.):
I hear what you're saying... I too hope Bond20 is nothing like this.

If you think you can bear it, there's more at:
http://bond20.the007...info/script.txt

Hey, Jimmy Page - whilst I'm here smokin a fag - I've just had a look at your link to script.txt. To be honest, it's not such a bad script excerpt. In L.A. I see a lot of these kind of scripts come across my desk - but this had a David Mamet style of writing. Brosnan wanted to be tougher in this film and in this -Bond is tortured and drowned in cold blood - then revived. It's humanly possible for this to happen - and the line that the main villian says - is not half bad - Actually if you look at your history with women you are a rather cold and detached person. Incapable of expressing affection. Can't love, won't love.
Someone who has to result to physical violence to free his soul of the pain.

It's not bad dialogue. What do other members feel???

[Blue Eyes]

Well Diamond, you asked for it. Welcome to the site by the way, it's great to have you here. If you pull anything from LA, be sure to let me know. either through here, or through [email protected]

Here it is as sent to me!! Tell me what you think I'm posting half now, half later cause of size restrictions

WHAT FOLLOWS IS A SCENE NOT SENT TO BOND20.COM - FOR COMMANDERBOND.NET

THIS IS AGAIN FROM THE SCREENPLAY FOR BOND 20 - FINAL ASSIGNMENT AND IT IS SET IN SYDNEY

BOND
Where did you park the car?

CATHERINE
( shouts )
What do you mean, where did I park the car!? Outside.

BOND
Where exactly?

She looks at him in disbelief.

CATHERINE
If you're worried about a parking ticket, I'll kill you!

BOND
( more insistent )
Where?!

CATHERINE
Round the bloody back. Like you told me to! Why!?

Bond presses a button on his watch.

BOND
Watch.

She looks at him as he presses another button.

97. EXT. REAR OF SATCOMM BUILDING - NIGHT

Bond's BMW headlights flip over and two heat seeking missles are FIRED.

98. INT. GROUND LEVEL - NIGHT

Bond releases the strap on his watch and throws it down at the gangway. He looks at Catherine.

BOND
GET DOWN!

A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION

rocks the building as the missles hit and explode on impact. The whole world seems to spin on it's axis - and . . .

it almost doesn't register, so smooth and fast. The eye of the guard holding Bond blinks and Bond's palm snaps up and the nose explodes, blood erupting.

The guard is dead before he begins to fall.

Bond is moving again -- seizing a wrist, misdirecting a gun, as a startled guard FIRES.

In blind panic, another guard airs his gun, the barrel, a fixed black hole -- FIRES - and Catherine twists out of the way, the bullet missing as she reverses into a roundhouse kick, knocking the gun away.

The guard begins to scream when Catherine's jump kick crushes his windpipe, killing the scream as he falls to the ground. Bond runs, dives, grabs his watch and twists the outer casing. Suddenly, the BMW SMASHES through the bricks in the hole left by the explosion. It does a 180 degree spin, comes to a halt.

BOND
Run for the car!

Bond runs, hits the destroyed gangway, using the metal as a springboard and somersaulting up, he lands and continues to run. Catherine hurtles through the flames, her body levelling into a dive. The gangway gives way. She falls, arms covering her head as she lands bleeding, broken -- but still alive into the waiting arms of Hunter.

Bond dives into the BMW as

THE GUARDS continue to blast away at the car.

THE WINDOWS DON'T SHATTER.

THE ARMOR-PLATED SIDE-PANELS ONLY DENT WITH BULLET HITS...

99. INT. BOND'S CAR - MOVING - LOWER LEVEL - NIGHT

Bond guns the engine, slams the transmission into gear. Burning rubber, GUARDS bounce off the front fenders.

THE GUARDS -

Continue to shoot at the car.

Bond sees Catherine being dragged by Hunter out of the building.

100. INT. BOND'S CAR - (MOVING)

Bond flips open a hidden control panel. Flips a switch.

101. EXT. BACK OF BOND'S CAR - (MOVING) -

The TAIL-LIGHTS DROP DOWN and MACHINE GUNS start to fire.

102. INT. BOND'S CAR - (MOVING) -

Bond glances at the REARVIEW MIRROR. Sees the guards firing. He presses another switch -

CLOSE ON BOND'S EXHAUST PIPE -

Whoosh! A flame BURSTS out, trailing smoke as it hones in on -

THE GUARDS run screaming, burning in different directions.

BOND
Fight fire with fire.

103. INT. LOWER LEVEL - UP RAMP -

Bond's car roars through the hole left by the explosion, sparks flying as it scrapes the walls.

104. EXT. SATCOMM BUILDING - NIGHT

Bond's BMW explodes out of the building. Guards continue to shoot as Bond heads for the waters edge where Hunter's boat is heading out into the harbour.

[Blue Eyes]

And here's some more!!

105. INT. BOND'S CAR ( MOVING ) -

Bond braces himself as he heads towards the water.

106. EXT. WATER'S EDGE - NIGHT

The car explodes over the edge.

107. INT. BOND'S CAR ( MOVING ) -

The BMW hits the water and Bond is rocked with the impact. The windows immediately shoot up. The car sinks headfirst beneath the surface.

BOND
I'm getting a case of deja vous.

Bond hits a few buttons. A schematic diagram of the surface appears on his dashboard. A red blip on the screen, he sees the position of Hunter's boat. Bond presses a button.

108. EXT. FRONT OF BOND'S CAR ( UNDERWATER )

Two sections off of the front of the car's bonnet fall away, leaving a pointed triangle. The wheels turn, slide and disappear into the side of the car.

A BURST OF BUBBLES AS THE MODIFIED CAR RISES TO THE SURFACE.

109. EXT. WATER - NIGHT

As it breaks the surface, the car hood is ejected. Bond's BMW has now become the newly designed Q boat.

110. INT. HUNTERS BOAT - NIGHT

Hunter stares at the Q boat approaching at great speed.

HUNTER
( into a throat mike )
Release the Sharks.

[Blue Eyes]

Well there ya go! I've got more to post. More exclusive for us.

But what do you all think?

Off the top of my head I posted parts with 'R' in it? Well before the first script was written I'm sure that EON/MGM had decided already that R would be Q in the next, in fact I don't think the TWINE script even referred to Cleese's character as R. Surely anyone employed to do a treatment would know such a fact?

But one thing I will say. It's a professionally written script. I think Diamond commented the same. It's professionally written. But I feel it lacks original content. It's too much of 'past ground', such as a car that goes underwater. Would they really recycle such an idea in such a major way?

Thoughts please people!

[Blue Eyes]

I stand corrected. The TWINE second draft referred to Cleese as R. I think it may have changed later though. Zencat could tell us better.

[Diamond]

zencat (31 Jul, 2001 12:20 a.m.):
All I gotta say is I really hope this ISN'T the plot to Bond 20 because it just sounds too convoluted, too personal, too much of a fan fantasy that will make general audiences say, "Where's the mega villain in a volcano?"

But this IS the direction the PB movies have been going ......

If this IS Bond 20...I hope it's better than it sounds.

I agree with you ZenCat - but a lot does depend on the writing. Whoever wrote this Final Assignment must have researched Bond thoroughly and we all know the films have been creative with Flemings work whilst still being connected in some shape or form.

After a lot of investigation - it seems this screenplay could be a good plot for Brosnan to work on a different side of Bond's character. I have just been reading up on Fleming's take on Bond's past and have discovered this :

James Bond is born in Scotland to Andrew Bond and Monique Delacroix Bond.
Andrew Bond was a foreign representative of the Vickers armaments firm while Fleming covered a trial in Moscow concerning spy charges on Vickers employees. Perhaps the writer of Final Assignment has connected Bond's father with these spy charges - hence his involvement with the British Secret Service??
Andrew and Monique Bond are supposedly killed in a climbing accident above Chamonix, in France. Eleven year old James goes to live with his fathers' sister, Charmaine Bond, near Canterbury.
Bond enters Fettes, in Edinburgh, his fathers old school. So his father was scottish - so it would be possible for Connery to be involved - but I doubt they would afford him!!!
Seventeen year old James leaves Fettes and claiming an age of nineteen - enters what becomes the Ministry of Defence. You Only Live Twice, Chapter 21, Obit; by now it was 1941, and by claiming an age of nineteen, and with the help of an Old Vickers colleague of his father ...
In late 1950 James Bond becomes 007 - and is "licenced to kill". Perhaps Bond's father was a double agent and was killed in action. Who knows??

One thing - on reading Bond20.Com's news I don't think they are saying that Bond's father is the villian in this script - I think they are saying that he was involved with the main villian years ago.

But could 00 agents be replaced - well, anything is possible. But to actually know how the Secret Service was formed and for Bond to discover his father was part of it - is possible.

I don't know - but I'm sure if this was written correctly - this would make a great film. - Does anyone else agree???