Skyfall Quotes
Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
M: Today I've repeatedly heard how irrelevant my department has become. "Why do we need agents, the Double-0 section? Isn't it all rather quaint?" Well, I suppose I see a different world than you do, and the truth is that what I see frightens me. I'm frightened because our enemies are no longer known to us. They do not exist on a map. They're not nations, they're individuals. And look around you. Who do you fear? Can you see a face, a uniform, a flag? No! Our world is not more transparent now, it's more opaque! It's in the shadows. That's where we must do battle. So before you declare us irrelevant, ask yourselves, how safe do you feel? Just one more thing to say, my late husband was a great lover of poetry, and... I suppose some of it sunk in, despite my best intentions. And here today, I remember this, I believe, from Tennyson: "We are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. To strive, to seek, to find, AND NOT TO YIELD."
[as Bond is tied to a chair, an elevator lowers in front of him, and Silva appears and walks toward him]
Raoul Silva: Hello, James. Welcome. Do you like the island? My grandmother had an island. Nothing to boast of. You could walk around it in an hour, but still it was, it was a paradise for us. One summer, we went for a visit and discovered the place had been infested with rats. They'd come on a fishing boat and gorged themselves on coconut. So how do you get rats off an island? Hmm? My grandmother showed me. We buried an oil drum and hinged the lid. Then we wired coconut to the lid as bait and the rats would come for the coconut and... they would fall into the drum. And after a month, you have trapped all the rats, but what do you do then? Throw the drum into the ocean? Burn it? No. You just leave it and they begin to get hungry. And one by one...
[mimics rat munching sound]
Raoul Silva: they start eating each other until there are only two left. The two survivors. And then what? Do you kill them? No. You take them and release them into the trees, but now they don't eat coconut anymore. Now, they only eat rat. You have changed their nature. The two survivors. This is what she made us.
Raoul Silva: Hello, James. Welcome. Do you like the island? My grandmother had an island. Nothing to boast of. You could walk around it in an hour, but still it was, it was a paradise for us. One summer, we went for a visit and discovered the place had been infested with rats. They'd come on a fishing boat and gorged themselves on coconut. So how do you get rats off an island? Hmm? My grandmother showed me. We buried an oil drum and hinged the lid. Then we wired coconut to the lid as bait and the rats would come for the coconut and... they would fall into the drum. And after a month, you have trapped all the rats, but what do you do then? Throw the drum into the ocean? Burn it? No. You just leave it and they begin to get hungry. And one by one...
[mimics rat munching sound]
Raoul Silva: they start eating each other until there are only two left. The two survivors. And then what? Do you kill them? No. You take them and release them into the trees, but now they don't eat coconut anymore. Now, they only eat rat. You have changed their nature. The two survivors. This is what she made us.
Q: It always makes me feel a bit melancholy. Grand old war ship. being ignominiously haunted away to scrap... The inevitability of time, don't you think? What do you see?
James Bond: A bloody big ship. Excuse me.
Q: 007. I'm your new Quartermaster.
James Bond: You must be joking.
Q: Why, because I'm not wearing a lab coat?
James Bond: Because you still have spots.
Q: My complexion is hardly relevant.
James Bond: Your competence is.
Q: Age is no guarantee of efficiency.
James Bond: And youth is no guarantee of innovation.
Q: Well, I'll hazard I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pajamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field.
James Bond: Oh, so why do you need me?
Q: Every now and then a trigger has to be pulled.
James Bond: Or not pulled. It's hard to know which in your pajamas. Q.
Q: 007.
James Bond: A bloody big ship. Excuse me.
Q: 007. I'm your new Quartermaster.
James Bond: You must be joking.
Q: Why, because I'm not wearing a lab coat?
James Bond: Because you still have spots.
Q: My complexion is hardly relevant.
James Bond: Your competence is.
Q: Age is no guarantee of efficiency.
James Bond: And youth is no guarantee of innovation.
Q: Well, I'll hazard I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pajamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field.
James Bond: Oh, so why do you need me?
Q: Every now and then a trigger has to be pulled.
James Bond: Or not pulled. It's hard to know which in your pajamas. Q.
Q: 007.
Doctor Hall: [Bond enters the interrogation room to take his psychological test, looking toward the one way mirror. M and Mallory stand on the other side with Tanner] I'd like to start with some simple word associations. Just tell me the first word that pops into your head. For example, I say, "Day" and you might say...
James Bond: Wasted.
Doctor Hall: [sighs] All right.
[pause]
Doctor Hall: Gun.
James Bond: Shot.
Doctor Hall: Agent.
James Bond: Provocateur.
Doctor Hall: Woman?
James Bond: Provocatrix.
Doctor Hall: Heart.
James Bond: Target.
Doctor Hall: Bird.
James Bond: Sky.
Doctor Hall: M.
James Bond: Bitch.
[M sighs from the other side of the interrogation room]
Doctor Hall: Sunlight
James Bond: Swim
Doctor Hall: Moon
James Bond: Dance
Doctor Hall: Murder.
James Bond: Employment.
Doctor Hall: Country.
James Bond: England.
Doctor Hall: Skyfall.
[Bond suddenly pauses]
Doctor Hall: Skyfall.
[Continued pause]
Doctor Hall: Done.
[Bond walks out - looking coldly through the one-way mirror]
Gareth Mallory: Hmm, this is going well
[he leaves, M sighs again]
James Bond: Wasted.
Doctor Hall: [sighs] All right.
[pause]
Doctor Hall: Gun.
James Bond: Shot.
Doctor Hall: Agent.
James Bond: Provocateur.
Doctor Hall: Woman?
James Bond: Provocatrix.
Doctor Hall: Heart.
James Bond: Target.
Doctor Hall: Bird.
James Bond: Sky.
Doctor Hall: M.
James Bond: Bitch.
[M sighs from the other side of the interrogation room]
Doctor Hall: Sunlight
James Bond: Swim
Doctor Hall: Moon
James Bond: Dance
Doctor Hall: Murder.
James Bond: Employment.
Doctor Hall: Country.
James Bond: England.
Doctor Hall: Skyfall.
[Bond suddenly pauses]
Doctor Hall: Skyfall.
[Continued pause]
Doctor Hall: Done.
[Bond walks out - looking coldly through the one-way mirror]
Gareth Mallory: Hmm, this is going well
[he leaves, M sighs again]
James Bond: So this is it. We're both played out.
M: Well, if you believe that, why did you come back?
James Bond: Good question.
M: Because we're under attack. And you know we need you.
James Bond: Well, I'm here.
M: You'll have to be debriefed and declared fit for active service. You can only return to duty when you've passed the tests, so take them seriously. And a shower might be in order.
James Bond: I'll go home and change.
M: Oh, we've sold your flat, put your things into storage. Standard procedure on the death of an unmarried employee with no next of kin. You should have called.
James Bond: I'll find a hotel.
M: Well, you're bloody well not sleeping here.
M: Well, if you believe that, why did you come back?
James Bond: Good question.
M: Because we're under attack. And you know we need you.
James Bond: Well, I'm here.
M: You'll have to be debriefed and declared fit for active service. You can only return to duty when you've passed the tests, so take them seriously. And a shower might be in order.
James Bond: I'll go home and change.
M: Oh, we've sold your flat, put your things into storage. Standard procedure on the death of an unmarried employee with no next of kin. You should have called.
James Bond: I'll find a hotel.
M: Well, you're bloody well not sleeping here.
Raoul Silva: [Silva goes to the desk, accessing Bond's debriefing results from his computer] Medical evaluation: fail. Physical evaluation: fail. Psychological evaluation, alcohol and substance addiction indicated. Ooh! Pathological rejection of authority based on unresolved childhood trauma.
[glances to Bond then back to the computer]
Raoul Silva: Subject is not approved for field duty and immediate suspension for service advised.
[rises from the desk, going to Bond]
Raoul Silva: What is this if not betrayal? She sent you off to me, knowing you're not ready, knowing you're likely die. Mommy was very bad.
[glances to Bond then back to the computer]
Raoul Silva: Subject is not approved for field duty and immediate suspension for service advised.
[rises from the desk, going to Bond]
Raoul Silva: What is this if not betrayal? She sent you off to me, knowing you're not ready, knowing you're likely die. Mommy was very bad.
Raoul Silva: If you wanted, you could pick your own secret missions. As I do. Name it, name it. Destabilize a multinational by manipulating stocks. Bip. Easy. Interrupt transmissions from a spy satellite over Kabul... done. Hmm. Rig an election in Uganda. All to the highest bidder.
James Bond: Or a gas explosion in London.
Raoul Silva: Mm-hm. Just point and click.
James Bond: Well, everybody needs a hobby.
Raoul Silva: So what's yours?
James Bond: Resurrection.
James Bond: Or a gas explosion in London.
Raoul Silva: Mm-hm. Just point and click.
James Bond: Well, everybody needs a hobby.
Raoul Silva: So what's yours?
James Bond: Resurrection.
M: Regret is not part of our profession.
Raoul Silva: They kept me for five months in a room with no air. They tortured me, and I protected your secrets. I protected you. But they made me suffer. And suffer. And suffer. Until I realized, it was you who betrayed me. You betrayed me. So, I had only one thing left. My cyanide capsule in my back left molar. You remember, right? So, I broke the tooth and bit into the capsule. It... burned all my insides, but I didn't die. Life clung to me like a disease. And then I understood why I had survived. I needed to look in your eyes one last time.
Raoul Silva: They kept me for five months in a room with no air. They tortured me, and I protected your secrets. I protected you. But they made me suffer. And suffer. And suffer. Until I realized, it was you who betrayed me. You betrayed me. So, I had only one thing left. My cyanide capsule in my back left molar. You remember, right? So, I broke the tooth and bit into the capsule. It... burned all my insides, but I didn't die. Life clung to me like a disease. And then I understood why I had survived. I needed to look in your eyes one last time.
[At Q's lab, Q and Tanner try to create a false trail for Silva to follow]
Q: It's a fine line. If the breadcrumb's too small, then he might miss it. Too big, and Silva will smell a rat.
Tanner: Yes, but you'd think even Silva will be able to spot that.
Q: He's the only one who could.
[Tanner turns and sees Mallory standing behind them]
Tanner: Sir.
Q: Oh.
Gareth Mallory: What are you doing?
Q: We're just... monitoring.
Gareth Mallory: Creating a false tracking signal for Silva to follow.
Tanner: Well, sir, um...
Q: Well, no...
Gareth Mallory: Excellent thinking, get him isolated. Send him on the A9. It's a direct route. You can monitor his progress more accurately and confirm it with the traffic cameras.
Q: But, uh... what if PM finds out?
Gareth Mallory: Then we're all buggered. Carry on.
Q: It's a fine line. If the breadcrumb's too small, then he might miss it. Too big, and Silva will smell a rat.
Tanner: Yes, but you'd think even Silva will be able to spot that.
Q: He's the only one who could.
[Tanner turns and sees Mallory standing behind them]
Tanner: Sir.
Q: Oh.
Gareth Mallory: What are you doing?
Q: We're just... monitoring.
Gareth Mallory: Creating a false tracking signal for Silva to follow.
Tanner: Well, sir, um...
Q: Well, no...
Gareth Mallory: Excellent thinking, get him isolated. Send him on the A9. It's a direct route. You can monitor his progress more accurately and confirm it with the traffic cameras.
Q: But, uh... what if PM finds out?
Gareth Mallory: Then we're all buggered. Carry on.
Raoul Silva: [Silva unbuttons Bond's shirt and peels back the shirt to expose the scar tissue where Bond removed the bullet] Ooh! See what she's done to you.
James Bond: [suspicious] Well, she never tied me to a chair.
Raoul Silva: Her loss.
[Silva begins caressing Bond's neck]
James Bond: Are you sure this is about M?
Raoul Silva: It's about her... and you, and me. You see, we are the last two rats. We can either eat each other... mmm... or eat everyone else.
[Silva strokes Bond's neck]
Raoul Silva: How you're trying to remember your training now.
[Silva smiles]
Raoul Silva: What's the regulation to cope with this?
[Silva strokes both of Bond's upper legs]
Raoul Silva: Well, first time for everything.
[Bond smiles]
Raoul Silva: Yes?
James Bond: Hm. What makes you think this is my first time?
Raoul Silva: [sits back] Oh, Mr Bond.
James Bond: [suspicious] Well, she never tied me to a chair.
Raoul Silva: Her loss.
[Silva begins caressing Bond's neck]
James Bond: Are you sure this is about M?
Raoul Silva: It's about her... and you, and me. You see, we are the last two rats. We can either eat each other... mmm... or eat everyone else.
[Silva strokes Bond's neck]
Raoul Silva: How you're trying to remember your training now.
[Silva smiles]
Raoul Silva: What's the regulation to cope with this?
[Silva strokes both of Bond's upper legs]
Raoul Silva: Well, first time for everything.
[Bond smiles]
Raoul Silva: Yes?
James Bond: Hm. What makes you think this is my first time?
Raoul Silva: [sits back] Oh, Mr Bond.
[Bond and M drive off in the Aston Martin DB5]
M: It's not very comfortable, is it?
James Bond: [Flips up the shift knob cap to reveal the ejector seat button underneath] Are you gonna complain all the way?
M: Oh, go on, then, eject me. See if I care.
[Bond reconsiders the thought and closes the shift knob while driving]
M: It's not very comfortable, is it?
James Bond: [Flips up the shift knob cap to reveal the ejector seat button underneath] Are you gonna complain all the way?
M: Oh, go on, then, eject me. See if I care.
[Bond reconsiders the thought and closes the shift knob while driving]
Sévérine: Would you mind if I ask you a business question?
James Bond: Depends on the question.
Sévérine: It has to do with death.
James Bond: A subject in which you're well-versed.
Sévérine: And how would you know that?
James Bond: Only a certain kind of wears a backless dress with a Beretta 70 strapped to her thigh.
Sévérine: One can never be too careful when handsome man in tuxedos carry Walthers.
James Bond: Depends on the question.
Sévérine: It has to do with death.
James Bond: A subject in which you're well-versed.
Sévérine: And how would you know that?
James Bond: Only a certain kind of wears a backless dress with a Beretta 70 strapped to her thigh.
Sévérine: One can never be too careful when handsome man in tuxedos carry Walthers.
[Bond runs and jumps on the end of the train, hanging on the door as the female conductor looks at him in confusion]
James Bond: Open the door, please!
[Conductor still stares at him]
James Bond: Open the door!
[Conductor finally opens the door before Bond walks in]
James Bond: Health and Safety. Carry on.
James Bond: Open the door, please!
[Conductor still stares at him]
James Bond: Open the door!
[Conductor finally opens the door before Bond walks in]
James Bond: Health and Safety. Carry on.
James Bond: Not enough excitement in Istanbul?
Eve: I've been reassigned. Temporary suspension from field work.
James Bond: Really?
Eve: Mmm. Something to do with killing 007.
James Bond: Well, you gave it your best shot.
Eve: That was hardly my best shot.
James Bond: I'm not sure I could survive your best.
Eve: I doubt you'll get the chance.
Eve: I've been reassigned. Temporary suspension from field work.
James Bond: Really?
Eve: Mmm. Something to do with killing 007.
James Bond: Well, you gave it your best shot.
Eve: That was hardly my best shot.
James Bond: I'm not sure I could survive your best.
Eve: I doubt you'll get the chance.
Gareth Mallory: There's a hearing at ten tomorrow. You're expected to attend.
M: Attend in stocks? Who's old-fashioned now?
Gareth Mallory: Oh, please! This is a democracy, we're responsible to the people we're supposed to defend! We can't walk in the shadows anymore, there are no more shadows!
M: Don't you get it? He knows us! He's one of us! He comes from the same place as Bond, a place you say doesn't exist: the shadows!
M: Attend in stocks? Who's old-fashioned now?
Gareth Mallory: Oh, please! This is a democracy, we're responsible to the people we're supposed to defend! We can't walk in the shadows anymore, there are no more shadows!
M: Don't you get it? He knows us! He's one of us! He comes from the same place as Bond, a place you say doesn't exist: the shadows!
Eve: You know, Mallory's not as bad as you think.
James Bond: He's a bureaucrat.
Eve: You should do your homework. Gareth Mallory was a Lieutenant Colonel...
James Bond: Lieutenant Colonel in Northern Ireland. Hereford Regiment. Spent three months at the hands of the IRA.
Eve: So there's more to him than meets the eye.
James Bond: He's a bureaucrat.
Eve: You should do your homework. Gareth Mallory was a Lieutenant Colonel...
James Bond: Lieutenant Colonel in Northern Ireland. Hereford Regiment. Spent three months at the hands of the IRA.
Eve: So there's more to him than meets the eye.
M: [quoting the poem Ulysses by Lord Alfred Tennyson] Though much is taken, much abides, and though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are... One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
