- Simon Templar: You have upset a nest full of hornets out there and they are buzzing. Do you have any idea how quickly things can change in this game? Within 24 hours the heavy mob will have obliterated their present organisation and started up a new one. When I say obliterated, I really mean obliterated. If the Gent is alive today, he'll surely be dead tomorrow. And that rather screws up your plan, doesn't it?
- Simon Templar: Where did you learn to die like that, General, in the war?
- General Platt: No, television.
- Simon Templar: Ah. Well, shall we finish it?
- General Platt: Why not?
- Simon Templar: Why not indeed.
- Simon Templar: Well General, you're in command. What are your battle orders?
- General Platt: Well, we've lost the element of surprise, we can't outflank them, we've no supporting weapons or troops. There's only one course open.
- Simon Templar: Full speed ahead, bash 'em in the teeth.
- General Platt: Preferred term is 'Direct Assault.'
- Simon Templar: Yeah well, shock tactics either way.
- [first lines]
- Simon Templar: [narrating] The morning: beautiful. The girl: even more beautiful. Nothing to spoil it. Nothing, except a desperate phone call from another girl. One with only hours, maybe minutes left to live. And suddenly the morning wasn't beautiful any more.