Quantum of Solace (2008) - Quotes

The Futility of Revenge

Taglines: Revenge will bring him no amount of comfort.

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Intelligence and Loyalty in Dangerous Circumstances

James Bond: [quietly; holds them at gunpoint] Sit down. Sit down!

Yusef: [To Corinne] It's ok, baby.

James Bond: [looking at the woman] You're Canadian? You work in Canadian intelligence?

James Bond: That's all right...I know you do. And knowing this man, you likely have access to some very sensitive material that you're going to be forced to give up. His life will be threatened and because you love him, you won't hesitate. That's a beautiful necklace. Did he give it to you?

James Bond: I have one just like it. He gave it to a friend of mine...someone very close to me. Your name is...?

Corinne: Corinne.

James Bond: Corinne. Corinne, I suggest you leave now. You contact your people, and you tell them to check their seals. They have a leak. Do it now, please. This man and I have some unfinished business.

Corinne: [softly, as she leaves] Thank you.

Yusef: Please...make it quick.

M: Is he still alive?

James Bond: He is.

M: I'm surprised. Did you find what you were looking for?

James Bond: Yes.

M: Good.

M: I assume you have no regrets?

James Bond: I don't. What about you?

M: Course not. It would be unprofessional. They found Greene dead in the middle of the Bolivian desert of all places. Two bullets in the back of his skull. They found motor oil in his stomach. Does that mean anything to you?

James Bond: Wish I could help.

M: You'll be glad to know I straightened things out with the Americans. Your friend Leiter has been promoted. He replaced Beam.

James Bond: Well then, the right people kept their jobs.

M: Something like that.

James Bond: Congratulations, you were right.

M: About what?

James Bond: [pause; starts to walk away] About Vesper. Ma'am.

M: Bond...I need you back.

James Bond: [turns and smiles sadly] I never left.

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Desert Confrontation Between Bond and Greene

Dominic Greene: You promised that you'd —

James Bond: Let you go?

Dominic Greene: I answered your questions. I told you what you wanted to know about Quantum.

James Bond: [throws down a can of motor oil] Yes you did. And your friends would know that, so my guess is they're probably looking for you. But the good news is, you're in the middle of a desert. Here. I bet you make it 20 miles before you consider drinking that. Goodbye, Mr. Greene.

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Reflections on South America’s Political Landscape

James Bond: You know, I was just wondering what South America would look like if nobody gave a damn about coke or communism. It always impressed me the way you boys carved this place up.

Felix Leiter: I'll take that as a compliment coming from a Brit.

James Bond: Are you sure you're playing with the right side?

Felix Leiter: Regimes change once a week around here. Medrano will be no dirtier than the next guy.

James Bond: See, that's what I like about US intelligence. You'll lie down with anybody.

Felix Leiter: Including you, brother. Including you.

James Bond: Do you know you're being played? Dominic Greene is going to suck this place dry, and then he's going to move on. You're going to be left picking up the broken crockery.

Felix Leiter: What can I tell you? There's no such thing as a free lunch.

James Bond: You see, Felix, I don't think you're half as cynical as you make out to be.

Felix Leiter: You don't know me.

James Bond: [glances around] Why? Because you didn't come alone?

James Bond: How long have I got?

Felix Leiter: Thirty seconds.

James Bond: Well, that doesn't give us a lot of time, does it?

Felix Leiter: Medrano can't move until he pays off the army and the police chief. Greene's bringing him his money now. A hotel called the Perla de las Dunas. In the desert.

James Bond: Thank you, Felix.

Felix Leiter: James... move your ass.

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Shared Interests in Pursuing Greene

James Bond: It seems we're both using Greene to get to somebody.

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Government Accountability and Communication Challenges

Foreign Secretary: What's today's excuse, that Bond is legally blind?

M: No, minister.

Foreign Secretary: I don't think I need to tell you how upset the PM is.

M: With respect, the PM does have my direct line.

Foreign Secretary: And he'd have used it if he wanted to speak to you. I'm sorry, M, things have changed. We've had long discussions with our cousins. Mr Greene's interests and ours now align.

M: Minister, this man is a major player in one of the most dangerous and powerful organisations-

Foreign Secretary: We've never even heard of. Foreign policy cannot be conducted on the basis of hunches and innuendo.

M: Then give us time to gather enough evidence, so you can make informed decisions.

Foreign Secretary: [pause] Fine. Say you're right, say Greene is a villain. If we refused to do business with villains, we'd have almost no-one to trade with. The world's running out of oil, M. The Russians aren't playing ball, and the Americans and Chinese are dividing up what's left. "Right or wrong" doesn't come into it. We're acting out of necessity. Bond is running wild. Who's to say he hasn't been turned? Pull him in, or the Americans will put him down.

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Uncovering Motives and Misunderstandings

Camille Montes: So, what's your interest in Greene?

James Bond: Among other things, he tried to kill a friend of mine.

Camille Montes: A woman?

James Bond: Yes. But it's not what you think.

Camille Montes: Your mother?

James Bond: [smiles] She likes to think so.

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A Moment of Trust Between Allies

Rene Mathis: Please, stay with me. Stay here, please. Please.

James Bond: Come here. It's okay.

Rene Mathis: That's better. That doesn't hurt.

James Bond: Is Mathis your cover name?

Rene Mathis: Yes.

James Bond: Not a very good one, is it?

Rene Mathis: Do we forgive each other?

James Bond: I shouldn't have left you alone.

Rene Mathis: [Bond looks away; dies] Do you forgive Vesper? She gave everything for you. Forgive her. Forgive yourself.

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A Conversation Over Drinks

Bartender: [to Mathis] May I fix you a drink, sir?

Rene Mathis: What are you drinking?

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Wine, Debt, and Sunbathing Perspectives

Rene Mathis: [In Italian] This man had me kidnapped and tortured, and you serve him fine wine?

Gemma: [in Italian; Bond laughs] You only buy cheap wine. Anyway, after you were found innocent, they bought you this villa, so you really owe him, don't you think?

Rene Mathis: [In Italian, irritably] Gemma, go work on your tan.

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Team Loyalty and Moral Dilemmas

Felix Leiter: You know who Greene is, and you want to put us in bed with him. You're kidding, right?

Gregg Beam: [pause] Yeah, you're right - we should only deal with nice people. I need to know you’re on the team, Felix. I need to know that you value your career.

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Confrontation Over Bond's Actions in Brigenz

M: You killed a man in Brigenz.

James Bond: I did my best not to.

M: You shot him at point blank and threw him off a roof. I would hardly call that showing restraint!

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Tracking a Person of Extreme Interest

M: [cut off from Gregory Beam while investigating Greene] He's a person of extreme interest.

M: Tanner, I asked about the man and got transferred to the Section Chief of South America. How would she know to do that if they weren't tracking him?

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Bond's Insight on Slate's Relevance

Tanner: I've got Bond.

M: Ask him about Slate.

Tanner: She wants to know about Slate.

Bond: Tell her Slate was a dead end.

Tanner: Slate was a dead end.

M: Damn it, he killed him!

Unknown Threats and Hidden Alliances

James Bond: Are you going to tell us who you work for?

Mr. White: I was always very interested to meet you. I'd heard so much about you from Vesper. In fact, the real shame is that if she hadn't killed herself, we would have had you too. I think you would have done anything for her.

M: You know you're not in Britain, and goodness knows where you will be tomorrow. Which should tell you that eventually, you will tell us about the people you work with. And the longer it takes, the more painful we'll make it.

Mr. White: [laughs] You really don't know anything about us, do you? It's so amusing, because we are on the other side, thinking "Oh, the MI6, the CIA, they're watching over our shoulders, they're listening to our conversations." And the truth is, you don't even know we exist!

M: We do now, Mr White, and we're quick learners.

Mr. White: Oh, really? Well, then, the first thing you should know about us is that we have people everywhere. Am I right?

Investigation Reveals Truth About Vesper's Boyfriend

M: [displays an image of Yusef with scars] Vesper's boyfriend, Yusef Kabira, the one who was abducted in Morocco, the one she was trying to save. "His body" was washed up on a beach in Ibiza. We're meant to believe the fish did that to his face. His wallet and ID were in his pocket.

James Bond: Well, that's convenient.

M: Quite. Which is why I did a DNA check on a lock of his hair found in Vesper's apartment. It's not him.

James Bond: A lock of his hair? I wouldn't have thought Vesper the sentimental type.

M: Well, we never really know anyone, do we? But I do need to know, Bond. I need to know I can trust you.

James Bond: And you don't?

M: Well, it'd be a pretty cold bastard who didn't want revenge for the death of someone he loved.

James Bond: [he drinks] You don't need to worry about me. I'm not going to go chasing after him. He's not important. And neither was she.

M's Loyalty to Bond Over CIA Evidence

M: I couldn't give a shit about the CIA and their trumped-up evidence. Bond is my agent, and I trust him.

Blinded by Rage and Misjudgment

M: I think you're so blinded by inconsolable rage that you don't care who you hurt. When you can't tell your friends from your enemies, it's time to go.

Expectations of Presence in Conversations

M: When someone says we have people everywhere', you expect it to be hyperbole. Lots of people say that. Florists use that expression. It doesn't mean there's somebody working for them inside the bloody room!

Dominic Greene's Ultimatum on Power Dynamics

Dominic Greene: You should know something about me and the people I work with. We deal with the left or the right, with dictators or liberators. If the current president had been more agreeable, I wouldn't be talking to you. So if you decide not to sign, you will wake up with your balls in your mouth and your willing replacement standing over you. If you doubt that, then shoot me, take that money, and have a good night's sleep.

The Nature of Bond's Tragic Character

Dominic Greene: How much do you know about Bond, Camille? Because he's rather a tragic case... His MI6 file says he's difficult to control; a nice way of saying that everything he touches seems to wither and die. You make a good couple. You're both, what is the expression... damaged goods.