15 quotes
Manipulating Power for Media Control
Carver
What you're about to witness, Miss Lin, is not so much a missile attack, but the launch of a new world order. In precisely five minutes, after your countrymen have attacked the British fleet, I shall retaliate for dear old England by sending this missile in to Beijing, where General Chang has called for an emergency meeting of the ]. Unfortunately, General Chang will be delayed in traffic, arriving just after the missile has killed your leaders, and too late to stop the air force from sinking the entire British fleet, but he will be just in time to take over the government, negotiate a truce and emerge as a world leader, with a ].
[explaining his plan; [w:Central Military Commission (China)|Chinese High Command; [w:Nobel Peace Prize|Nobel Peace Prize]
Wai-Lin
And what do you get?
Carver
Me? Oh, nothing... just exclusive broadcasting rights in China for the next 100 years.
Gupta
Ready to rock and ruin.
[entering a code and contacting Carver via his walkie-talkie]
Carver
If you'll excuse me, I have something of a deadline to meet. Mr. Gupta?
[back to Lin]
Bond
Hello, Elliot. Interesting plan. I think I have something that belongs to you.
[with a radio]
Carver
So much for German efficiency. Mr. Stamper!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Elliot Carver Denies Malicious Rumors
Elliot Carver
Anyway, there's absolutely no truth in this malicious rumour that I started running ] stories simply because Sir Angus Black, the great British beef baron, lost £10,000 to me in a game of poker and refused to pay up. Moreover, there's even less truth in the rumour I took a hundred million francs from the French to keep the stories running for another year.
[[w:Bovine spongiform encephalopathy|mad cow disease]
Usherette
Excuse me, Mr. Carver.
Carver
Yes.
Usherette
This is the new banker, Mr?
James Bond
Bond. James Bond.
Carver
Another new banker. I seem to collect them. Tell me, Mr. Bond how's the market reacting to the crisis?
Bond
Well, currencies are off. Your stock is soaring.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reunion Sparks Reflection Between Bond and Paris
James Bond
I always wondered how I'd feel if I saw you again. Now I know. Was it something I said?
[she turns around, looks at him, and slaps him]
Paris Carver
How about the words "I'll be right back"?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Power of Words in Modern Warfare
Elliot Carver
You may have seen the General in the hallway just now but perhaps, with all your jetting around, you've not had a chance to peruse today's headlines. I rather like the last one. It isn't even mine!
[brings up newspaper scans on the large screens covering the wall: European English-language editions of ''Tomorrow'' with one headline CRISIS GROWS and another reading CHINA WARNS OF WAR. sees third news headline THE EMPIRE WILL STRIKE BACK, flanked by UK and Chinese flags]
James Bond
I never believe what I read in the press anyway.
Carver
Ha! Therein lies your problem, Mr. Bond. You see, we're both men of action, but your era and Miss Lin's is passing. Words are the new weapons, satellites the new artillery.
Bond
And you become the new Supreme Allied... Commander?
Carver
Exactly! ] had his ], ] had ], I have my divisions. TV, news, magazines. And by midnight I'll have reached and influenced more people than anyone in the history of this planet, save God Himself. And the best He ever managed was the ].
[[Caesar; [w:Legion XIII Gemina|legions; [Napoleon; [w:Grande Armée|his armies; points up; [w:Sermon on the Mount|Sermon on the Mount]
Bond
You really are quite insane.
Carver
The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
GPS Signals and Military Concerns
Admiral Roebuck
That's preposterous! We know exactly where that ship was positioned! The GPS system–Global Positioning Satellites–do not lie!
M
Yes, but our Singapore station picked up a mysterious signal - on the GPS frequency at the time of the attack. It could have sent that ship off course.
Roebuck
I have a missing British frigate-
M
I'm aware of that!
Roebuck
And instead of decisive action, all you want to do is-
M
My goal is to prevent World War III, Admiral, and I don't think sending an armada into the recovery area is the best way to do it.
Defense Minister
Where exactly did this mysterious GPS signal come from?
M
We're still investigating.
Roebuck
Investigating". With all due respect, M, sometimes I don't think you have the balls for this job!
M
Perhaps. But the advantage is, I don't have to think with them all the time.
Defense Minister
That's enough. Now where do we stand?
Roebuck
It was an unprovoked attack held in international waters. We send in the fleet for recovery and prepare for full retaliation!
M
Moderation. We investigate and stop short of sending the entire British Navy within 10 minutes of the world's largest air force.
Defense Minister
When will our ships be in position?
Roebuck
48 hours.
Defense Minister
Christ. The press are already screaming for blood; the last thing we want to do is escalate the situation.
James Bond
I'm afraid it may be too late to worry about that.
[arrives with a copy of the'' Tomorrow ''newspaper]
Defense Minister
Seventeen British sailors murdered"?! "According to Vietnamese officials who recovered the bodies, the victims were riddled with the same ammunition used by the Chinese Air Force.
[reads the paper]
M
Did you leak this?
Roebuck
No! This is the first I've heard of it.
Defense Minister
Well, this settles it: We send in the fleet. M, you have 48 hours to investigate.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Insurance Waiver for Bond's New Car
Q
If you'll just sign here, Mr. Bond. It's the insurance damage waiver for your beautiful new car. Will you need collision coverage?
[Disguised as a rental car agent]
James Bond
Yes.
Q
Fire?
Bond
Probably.
Q
Property destruction?
Bond
Definitely.
Q
Personal injury?
Bond
Well, I hope not, but accidents do happen.
Q
And they frequently do with you.
Bond
Well, that takes care of the normal wear-and-tear. Do I need any other protection?
Q
Only from me, 007. Unless you bring back that car back in pristine order.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Media Integrity in the Modern Age
James Bond
They'll print anything these days.
[knocking a Carver henchman to his demise in a newspaper printing machine]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Manipulation for Political Leverage
Elliot Carver
Mr. Wallace, call the President. Tell him if he doesn't sign the bill lowering the cable rates, we will release the video of him with the cheerleader in the Chicago motel room.
Mr. Wallace
Inspired, sir.
Carver
And after he signs the bill, release the tape anyway.
Mr. Wallace
Consider him slimed.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Neutrality in Unofficial Situations
Jack Wade
Yo, Jimbo!
James Bond
Wade? What the hell are you doing here?
Wade
Jimbo, you know the world's my office. This way. You know, officially, Uncle Sam's completely neutral in this turkey shoot.
[Leads Bond off the airstrip]
Bond
And unofficially?
Wade
We have no interest in seeing World War III, unless we start it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Contrasting Perspectives on Work and Enjoyment
Wai-Lin
It's mostly dull routine, of course, but every now and then you get to sail on a beautiful evening like this. And sometimes work with a decadent agent of a corrupt Western power.
James Bond
And they say communists don't know how to have fun.
Wai-Lin
Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I don't even have a "].
[[w:Little Red Book|little red book]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Suspicion Surrounds Fast News of Sailors' Deaths
James Bond
There is one strange thing. When I called our contact in Saigon, he said the Vietnamese only found the bodies of our sailors three hours ago.
Charles Robinson
How did they get the paper out so fast?
James Bond
Somebody at Tomorrow knew before the Vietnamese government did.
M
How much do you know about Elliot Carver, 007?
James Bond
Worldwide media baron. Able to topple governments with a single broadcast. Carver owns that newspaper, Tomorrow.
M
I didn't want to discuss this in front of the Minister, but that mysterious signal came from one of Carver's satellites. The PM would have my head if he knew we were investigating him. I'm sending you to Hamburg, 007. We've arranged for you to be invited tonight to a party at Carver's media centre.
[hands Bond a document containing his mission]
Charles Robinson
They're celebrating the launch of a new satellite, because now he has the ability to reach every human being on Earth.
M
Except the Chinese, who've refused broadcast rights.
Moneypenny
James, your ticket, cover story and rental car reservation. Sign here, please.
[rolls down her window and displays documents]
M
I believe you once had a relationship with Carver's wife, Paris?
[as Bond signs one of the documents]
James Bond
That was a long time ago, M. Before she was married. I didn't realise it was public knowledge.
Moneypenny
Queen and country, James.
M
Your job is to find out whether it was Carver or someone in his organisation who sent that ship off course and why. Use your relationship with Mrs. Carver if necessary.
James Bond
I doubt if she'll remember me.
M
Remind her. Then pump her for information.
Moneypenny
You'll just have to decide how much pumping is needed, James.
James Bond
If only that were true of you and I, Moneypenny.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Media Manipulation and Its Consequences
Elliot Carver
Don't you realise how absurd your position is?!
James Bond
No more absurd than starting a war for ratings!
Carver
Great men have always manipulated the media to save the world. Look at ], who told his photographers "You provide the pictures, I'll provide the ]". I've just taken it one step further.
[[w:William Randolph Hearst|William Randolph Hearst; [w:Spanish-American War|war]
Bond
Sorry, I tuned out for a moment, Elliot.
[kills a henchman sneaking up on him]
Carver
Touché.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The First Rule of Mass Media
Elliot Carver
You're too late again, Mr. Bond. It's a bad habit. There's nothing you can do. The missile is fully programmed, it can't be stopped. In a matter of minutes, my plan will succeed, and thanks largely to your efforts, the British Navy will destroy the evidence. And I'll be out of here, in a Carver News helicopter covering the event. It's going to be a fantastic show!
[Bond surreptitiously activates the sea-drill behind them]
James Bond
I may have some breaking news for you, Elliot. You forgot the first rule of mass media, Elliot! Give the people what they want!
[Carver notices the approaching drill as it breaks through a window; Bond uses the distraction to overpower him; Bond leaves Carver in the drill's path]
Carver
No, no, no! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
[realizing; horrified; Carver is killed by the drill]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Critique of Unwanted Guidance
James Bond
Backseat driver.
[after ejecting an assassin in the back seat of the jet he is flying into another jet, resulting in the other jet's destruction, along with both pilots]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Undercover Strategy in a Dangerous Situation
Wai Lin
They're looking for us, James.
James Bond
Let's stay under cover.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.