The Quantum of Solace

Location: ?

Harlan and Jas leaves Buddy with the T.H.E.P.A. agents. Harlan explained that bringing Buddy along will just endanger him and Jas reluctantly agreed to leave him in T.H.E.P.A.'s custody.

Harlan: Don't worry Jas, T.H.E.P.A. will provide heavy security for Buddy. I would die before they harm the dog.

Harlan and Jasmine board the plane. Harlan leads the way and stops at a mini bar. Harlan gets a bottle of scotch and two glasses. He pours some in them and gives one to Jas.

Harlan: To saving the world.

Jasmine: To saving the world.

Harlan and Jas toast. They drink down the glass of scotch. Nicholas walks up to them.

Nicholas: Are both of you doing fine?

Harlan turns to Nicholas.

Harlan (to Nicholas): Nicholas, it's gonna be a long ride. How about you show Jas to her chambers Also...

Harlan whispers something to Nicholas' ear. Nicholas then nods in agreement.

Nicholas: Yes sir, I understand.

Jasmine: What's going on?

Harlan: It's gonna be a fourteen hour ride. You should get some rest. Nicholas will show you to your room.

Jasmine nods. She puts the glass down, then follows Nicholas. Harlan takes one last look at Jas before she walks away.

_.-

Jasmine follows Nicholas up the stairs. Eventually, they reach the second highest level and Nicholas leads her to the closest cubicle. Inside the cubicle is a bed and a window.

Nicholas: We will be taking off soon. You should get some rest.

Nicholas smiles at Jasmine before walking away. Jas closes the door to her cubicle, lies on the bed and falls asleep instantly.

_.-

Jas wakes up hours later. She looks at the window and sees the sun out. She stretches her arms, then decides to walk out.

As Jas opens the door, she kicks something. Jasmine looks down to see a box. Curious, Jas picks up the box, and walks back in her cubicle to open it.

Jasmine opens the box to find a make up set, hair accessories, earrings, and a sparkling white dinner dress. On the dress is a card reading:

Third Floor, Five Minutes

-H

Jas smirks, then laughs. She takes the make up, and puts it on her face. Once she's finished, Jasmine changes out of her hospital clothes, and into the dinner dress.

Jasmine walks out the cubicle, looking even more beautiful. She follows the card's instructions, and goes down one level.

Jasmine goes to the third floor, to see a table for two set up. Harlan, who is sitting down, (wearing a white tuxedo, dark blue bow tie and holster suspenders, with a red carnation on his white coat,) sees Jas. He puts the gun on the table in his holster suspenders, stands and walks to her to greet her.

Harlan: Jasmine.

Jasmine: Harlan.

The two smile.

Harlan: You look beautiful. Shall we?

Harlan leads her to the table. Harlan then walks away, and comes back with a trolley with two plates of steak, and a bottle of champagne. Harlan serves Jas her dinner, then his, then pours champagne on the two glasses. He hands one to Jas, the two toast and drink.

Jasmine and Harlan eat their meal. Harlan has something to ask Jas, but doesn't know how to ask her. Jas looks at Harlan and notices something wrong.

Jasmine: What is it?

Harlan: What is what?

Jasmine: Your face.

Harlan: What about it?

Jasmine: I know that face. Something's up.

Harlan grins. He wipes his mouth with his handkerchief.

Harlan: So is there a Mrs Olsen?

Jasmine laughs.

Jasmine: What? No. What gave you the idea?

Harlan nudges his head. Jas looks down and sees the diamond ring on her left ring finger.

Jasmine: Ooooh. This.

Harlan: Yeah.

Jasmine: No no. This was given to me by my father one year after-

The memory hurts Jasmine, and Harlan could see it. Jasmine gulps.

Jasmine: One year after we broke up.

Harlan: My condolences by the way.

Jasmine: It's fine. Thank you.

Harlan: So, how were you in these past five years?

Jasmine looks at Harlan.

Jasmine: Why so interested?

Harlan: Nothing. I just care-

Jasmine: Do you though? I should rephrase it. Did you?

Harlan is taken aback by this. He takes a drink.

Jasmine: Yes I know. I know what your job means. I know that you have to make decisions, do those actions for the safety and security of the people. But has it ever bothered you? Has it ever bothered you how many people's lives you have taken away. How many people's hearts you have broken? Or are they just lifeless mannequins you shoot through one by one, just to get to your target?

Harlan is clearly being affected by this.

Jasmine: So before you say that you care, did you really?

Harlan takes this in, but he doesn't answer. He just eats the last bite of steak from his plate, and puts down his utensils.

The co-pilot of the plane comes with a tray.

Pilot: Hello you two. How was dinner?

Harlan: Great. Really great.

Pilot: Great, then you ready for dessert?

The agent removes a piece of cloth on the tray, to reveal small pints of ice cream (yogurt and cookies & cream) and a box of strawberries. The agent puts the dessert on the table. However, as he does, Harlan notices a fresh blood-red stain on his sleeve.

Harlan: Say captain, shouldn't you be with Nicholas?

Pilot: Oh don't worry, he's alright. In fact,

The pilot flips the tray, and brings out a pistol and aims it at Harlan.

Pilot: In fact, you can say hi to him yourself.

Jas looks in fear, as she sees the recognizable SERPENT logo on the pilot's pistol.