'GoldenEye': From Script To Screen

Any film undergoes numerous changes between script and screen, and GOLDENEYE is no exception. Pierce Brosnan's James Bond debut began life in early 1994, with screenwriter Michael France introducing the rivalry between 007 and 006 (then named Augustus Trevelyan rather than Alec), a deadly femme fatale (Xenia Labyakova instead of Onatopp), a horseback-riding scene in Moscow instead of a tank chase in St. Petersburg, the return of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS' General Pushkin, and some elements that would later be reworked into 1999's THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.

Eventually, screenwriters Jeffrey Caine, Kevin Wade, and Bruce Feirstein made several modifications to France's script, leading to the blockbuster we know today. However, by analyzing three drafts dated November 21, 1994; January 7, 1995; and January 24, 1995, we can identify some interesting differences. These versions include most of the deleted scenes found on the two-disc Ultimate Edition DVD releases from 2006 and 2008, later ported to Blu-ray. Yet there are also a few differences worth noting. Let's take a look at them.

In all three script drafts, the film begins at the "Arkhangelsk Dam, Byelomorye, USSR." In the final print, this was changed to the Arkangel Chemical Weapons Facility in the USSR. Thanks to these drafts, we can understand why the Dam level in the GOLDENEYE 007 game for Nintendo 64 takes place at "Byelomoyre Dam," as the developers had access to the film's scripts and production material in early 1995, when the project began, even though the game would not hit stores until August 1997.

Instead of cutting directly to Bond running across the dam and taking the bungee jump, the story originally featured a brief scene in which the secret agent had to deal with guards patrolling the facility. In both the November 21 and January 7 drafts (as well as John Gardner's novelization), Bond takes them down with his silenced Walther PPK while they are busy playing chess. In the January 24 draft, however, the guards are watching the 1984 Olympic Games on television, and Bond merely evades them, as seen in the deleted scene featured on the GOLDENEYE Ultimate Edition DVD release and subsequent Blu-ray editions.

After meeting Trevelyan, Bond sets the explosive timers for three minutes in both the November 21 and January 7 drafts, then resets them to one minute after Alec is captured by Ourumov. This also happens in the novelization. In the January 24 draft and the final print, however, the timers are set for six minutes and later reset to three.

In all three script drafts, the story picks up nine years after the events of the prologue following the main title sequence. The scripts emphasize that Bond is older, but that "his good looks are intact." Although the scripts suggest that the pre-credits sequence took place in 1984 (which would place the main events of the film in 1993), Gardner's novelization correctly clarifies that the Arkangel mission happened in 1986 and that Bond visits Monaco in 1995. Gardner never mentions the 1984 Olympics in his book.

The November 21 draft had Bond fighting two Manticore sailors after infiltrating the yacht, with the men telling him that "Xenia has left." In the other two script drafts, the yacht is "deserted" except for a random sailor who tries to attack Bond from behind and is quickly dispatched by the secret agent. In the novelization, Bond fights the two sailors as in the November 21 draft.

All three script drafts featured an exchange between Natalya and Boris that was cut from the final print. Boris tells her, "Admit it, you're hot for my hard drive. You want it bad," to which she replies, "I think not. I hear all you've got is a three and a half inch floppy."

When M dresses down Bill Tanner in the MI6 situation room, Tanner says in the November 21 draft: "Too bad the Evil Queen of Numbers —the woman with the big bottom line— wouldn't let you play it." Every other version excludes the "big bottom line" pun.

The November 21 and January 7 drafts may also have served as inspiration for the Surface missions in the N64 game, as Bond says, "I've been inside that kind of Russian facility," referring to Severnaya. In the January 24 draft and the final film, he simply states that "he knows the Russian fail-safe systems." In the very same scene, Bond originally says, "Mathematics was never my strong suit" in the November 21 draft, which was changed to "Numbers were never my strong suit" in every subsequent version, including the final print.

When M briefs Bond, the November 21 draft has her telling him that MI6 ran "a psychological analysis based on his insider theory." The script notes that Bond hides his displeasure at M's methods. She notices this and reinforces her argument: "Data shows that the only possible candidate doesn't fit the profile of a traitor."

In the November 21 draft, M considers Bond "a relic of the Cold War whose boyish charms I might have actually succumbed to ten years ago..." In the January 7 version, she says "...whose sexist charms I might have actually succumbed to twenty years ago." In the January 24 draft, however, we get the line closer to the one used in the final print: "whose boyish charms, although lost on me, obviously appealed to that young woman I sent out to evaluate you."

All three drafts had Bond telling M: "I've never forgotten that a licence to kill is also a certificate to die." This line was omitted from the final print.

In these three drafts, immediately after the briefing scene, the story moves to Q's lab instead of the council meeting in St. Petersburg between Ourumov and Mishkin. In the November 21 and January 7 versions, Q greets Bond by saying: "Now pay attention 007. Let me show you the ever-more expensive ways we're working to keep you alive on our ever-shrinking budget." In the January 24 draft and the final print, the reference to MI6's ever-shrinking budget is omitted, and Q goes directly to showing Bond his new car.

In all three script drafts, Q says that the prototype of the exploding Parker pen "took out half the windows in Knightsbridge." He then tells Bond to bring everything back in pristine order and adds that "even the Queen pays taxes these days," another reference to MI6's budget. When Bond looks at Q's baguette sandwich, he originally asks, "What does it do?" and Q replies, "It's my lunch." None of this happens in the final film, in which Q merely grabs his sandwich from Bond's hands.

All three drafts feature an exchange between Jack Wade and Bond that was omitted from the final print. Wade asks, "You have any idea what the CIA is paying these days?" Bond replies, "To the penny. Your last defector gave an interview to the Moscow Times."

In the November 21 draft, Wade tells Bond that he can point him in the direction of Janus' top competitor, explaining: "They got one of these 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' kind of a things going." The same line appears in the January 7 draft, with Wade adding, "It's like the god-damned Mafia here." In the January 24 draft, we get the line used in the final print: "Anyways, truth is, you don't find this guy. He finds you. It's all Russian Mafia. Best I can do is point you in the direction of his competition."

The November 21 draft had a scene set at Kirov's Funeral Parlour, where Wade shows Bond the place from his ZAZ car. He then turns to show him an arms bazaar where weapons such as AK-47s and grenade launchers are stacked. "Capitalism's finest hour. The shopping mall of death. One size maims all, and anybody can make a killing. Kinda' like... Los Angeles." In the January 7 draft, Wade never stops at the funeral parlour and instead shows Bond the arms bazaar, repeating the line about capitalism and Los Angeles. The funeral-parlour moment returns in the January 24 draft, presumably at Martin Campbell's direction (a handwritten note reads, "MC Fixes 5 Jan 1995"). The scene was shot and can be found on the Ultimate Edition DVD and Blu-ray releases, but it was omitted from the final print for pacing reasons.

In the November 21 draft, Wade takes Bond to Number 17 Chugganaya, where Zukovsky operates. "Door to door service. If you get in trouble, I'll send in the Marines," he jokes. Bond checks the Walther's magazine, holsters the gun, and says, "Everything's coming up roses." We then see him picking the lock of Zukovsky's building. In the January 7 draft, Wade's line about an uninvited guest "going home in very small boxes" appears, to which Bond replies, "Forewarned... is forearmed," as he checks his weapon's magazine and picks the lock of Zukovsky's place. The January 24 draft repeats the "Forewarned is forearmed" line but omits Bond's lock-picking moment.

In every one of these drafts, Irina sings "Memories" from CATS instead of "Stand by Your Man." This may be why Bond makes the pun about the singer "strangling the cat" in the final print. Bond also touches a bruise on his head, indicating that Zukovsky or one of his henchmen may have hit him (this is exactly what happens in the novelization). Also, Zukovsky refers to the new M as "a girl" rather than "a lady," as in the final print.

After Zukovsky agrees to arrange a meeting between Bond and Janus, the November 21 draft has the arms dealer tell his old enemy: "If you are ever contemplating a change of career, Mr Bond, let me know." Bond replies: "The offer is stirring, Valentin. But I remain... unshaken." In the January 7 and January 24 drafts, Bond instead replies, "With people like you around, Valentin, I expect I'll always find work." The entire exchange was omitted from the movie.

Every draft places Natalya's encounter with Boris at Our Lady of Smolensk after Bond makes the deal with Zukovsky. Just as in the final print, Boris betrays Natalya and delivers her to Xenia. She knocks him out from behind, and Boris originally comments, "Cabbage brain." The scene at the church was followed by an argument between Boris and Ourumov at Trevelyan's train, which was deleted from the film and is available on the Ultimate Edition DVD and Blu-ray.

In the November 21 draft, after Xenia takes Bond to the statue park, the dialogue between the two is different. Bond says, "You'll understand if I don't call." She replies, "I'd rather be in hell." Bond then knocks her out and comments, "If you insist." In the January 1995 drafts, we get the dialogue used in the film: "I won't lose sleep over it." / "Sweet dreams."

The three drafts and the novelization feature an extended speech from Trevelyan after he reveals himself as Janus: "Trust? What a quaint idea. We live in a world where today's dictator is tomorrow's statesman; where the bomb thrower catches the Nobel Prize. It's all money, James. Free-market morality—where your friends and your allies come and go as quickly as the next bus on Regent Street."

In the November 21 and January 7 drafts, Natalya indicates to Bond where the eject button is on the Tiger helicopter. In the January 24 draft, Bond finds the button on his own, just as in the final film. In the same draft, when they are taken to the interrogation room at the Military Archives, Bond jokingly tells a guard: "I don't suppose there's a mini-bar." This line was omitted from the final print.

The conversation between Bond and Natalya before Mishkin arrives varies in each draft. In the November 21 version, Bond asks, "Was there anybody else involved?" and she replies, "My turn now. Who are you?" In the January 7 draft, Bond asks, "What about the satellites? Are there any more?" The January 24 version is closer to the final print, with Natalya asking, "They're going to kill me, aren't they?" and Bond replying, "Trust me. I won't let you die."

In the November 21 draft, Mishkin greets Bond by saying, "Good morning, Mr Bond. Your reputation precedes you," as he wiggles the PPK in the air. In the other drafts, just as in the final print, he says, "Good morning, Mr Bond. Sit." The first of these drafts has Mishkin directly asking, "Where is the GoldenEye?" and Bond replying, "I assume you had it." Mishkin's question about how Bond would prefer to be executed, as well as Bond's comment about the lost art of interrogation, appears in the January drafts.

Similarly, in the November 21 draft, Natalya barely has time to tell Mishkin that Ourumov stole the GoldenEye before the general interrupts them. In the other two drafts and in the final print, she adds that there is another GoldenEye satellite.

There are a few things in these three drafts that did not make the final cut during the acclaimed tank chase sequence. At one point, Ourumov complains to the driver: "It's a tank, dammit, can't you lose it?" Natalya also smiles at Bond's prowess. Similarly, the truck Bond crashes during the chase was carrying cans of Pepsi-Cola rather than Perrier. Once Ourumov reaches the train station, he shoots his chauffeur, just as happens in the novelization.

During the train standoff between the villains and Bond, the November 21 draft has 007 tell Ourumov that "little Alec lives in the past" and that "he wants his revenge for it." Afterwards, he warns the general: "You're as dead as I am, Ourumov." In the other two drafts, we get the dialogue used in the final print: "He'll betray you. Just like everyone else."

Since the November 21 draft has Bond setting the Arkangel timers for three minutes before readjusting them to one, Trevelyan tells him: "Good luck with the floor, James. I was going to give you three minutes. But I think sixty seconds is the least I could do for a friend," just as he rigs the carriage to self-destruct.

When Bond and Natalya journey to Cuba, she says that she dreamed about coming to the Caribbean, just as in the final print. In these drafts, however, Bond adds: "I'm so glad we could provide you with the opportunity." Later, they meet Jack Wade. There is a different exchange in the November 21 and January 7 drafts:

"Yo, James. You can take this guy. I got faith. You know all his moves."

To which 007 replies:

"Yes. But he knows all of mine."

In the January 24 draft, Wade simply says the same line as in the final print: "Yo, James. I got faith. But be careful. He knows you're coming."

There are major dialogue differences when Bond and Natalya argue on the Caribbean beach in the November 21 and January 7 versions. When she asks him if Trevelyan was his friend, he replies, "A lifetime ago." The dialogue continues more or less as it does in the film, and then Natalya scoffs at "all of you with your guns, your weapons and your death" as she beats him on the chest with her fists. Natalya then opens his shirt, sobbing and pounding on his bare chest. Bond comforts her as she cries, saying: "My friends... my family... they are gone! All gone!" The January 24 version is closer to the final print, and Natalya never pounds on Bond's chest. Instead, they simply "lock in a passionate, hungry embrace."

The three drafts show a slight difference when Boris tells Trevelyan that he is not ready to prepare the dish because "it's too early." Alec tells him, "I am," instead of the imperative "Do it!" from the final print. As the shootout between 007 and the guard ensues, Boris looks at Trevelyan worriedly, and the treacherous 006 tells him: "Keep working."

Just as in the final print, Bond is captured by Trevelyan. Bond tells him, "We aim to please," but in these drafts and the novelization Trevelyan replies: "I suppose that's the difference between us... I aim to kill. Where's the girl?" 007 answers: "We're not seeing each other now."

In the three drafts, when Trevelyan observes that the United Kingdom will re-enter the Stone Age, Bond notes that Tokyo, Frankfurt, New York, and Hong Kong will follow. In the final print, none of these targets are mentioned, even though Boris' computer screen shows transactions from several banks outside the UK. Once Natalya confronts Boris, she calls him "a pathetic little bastard" instead of "pathetic little worm."

When Bond and Natalya escape through the elevator after the exploding pen sets the control centre ablaze, he asks her if Boris can break her codes. Instead of saying "Possibly," as in the final print, she says in these drafts: "Possibly. He's a genius." When she grabs a weapon from one of the incapacitated guards and loads it, Bond kisses her on the cheek in these drafts before going after his former friend.

In the November 21 and January 7 drafts, Bond's weapon jams during his antenna shootout with Trevelyan. The villain yells: "Too late, James! Come out with your hands up, and die!" Later, Bond wedges his empty gun between the links of the drive chain, causing the antenna's malfunction. In the January 24 draft, Bond's weapon never jams, and he uses a crowbar to destroy the antenna's mechanism. In the final print, he uses a metal rod.

During their showdown, Trevelyan says "For England, James" before stomping on Bond's hand on the ladder in all three drafts. He then adds: "Sorry to rush things, I've got to catch a flight." In the final print, this is replaced by his call: "Alpha 1 to gunship."

These three drafts reveal just how much our beloved movie evolved before reaching the screen. From entire scenes and alternate dialogue to tiny changes in individual lines, they show a film constantly being refined. Some ideas disappeared, while others remain accessible through the novelization, the N64 game, or various home video releases. In any case, these differences offer an interesting glimpse at the many versions of Pierce Brosnan’s first adventure that existed before GOLDENEYE became the Bond film we know today.

Want to read more about the legacy of GOLDENEYE? Check out these books available in Paperback, Kindle and Digital Special Edition.