Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Q's whole job is this sentence: a mild-mannered engineer begging the world's least careful man to look after the toys. It works because Bond never does, and the joke ran for thirty years of Llewelyn's tutting. When a new Q takes over, "pay attention" is the phrase fans listen for, proof that the lab scene is still the franchise's most reliable running gag.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Spy Who Loved MeShow the scene
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). On Sardinia, Q delivers Bond's new Lotus Esprit by ferry, and Anya Amasova greets him as Major Boothroyd. Desmond Llewelyn's Q opens the briefing with this line and a warning to take great care of the equipment, but Bond cuts him off by asking whether he has ever let him down. Q answers "Frequently." Llewelyn played Q in 17 Eon films between 1963 and 1999, and "pay attention" became the quartermaster's calling card; it comes back in The World Is Not Enough.
Sources (4)
- Wikiquote: The Spy Who Loved Me (film)Dialogue section, Q and Bond exchangeReference checked
- James Bond Wiki: Q (Desmond Llewelyn)The Spy Who Loved Me and The World Is Not Enough sectionsReference checked
- Wikipedia: Desmond LlewelynLead paragraphReference checked
- Springfield! Springfield! transcript: The Spy Who Loved MeSardinia hotel sceneReference checked
Context reviewed
