The Adventures of Roger Bond and His Son James - Act V

When we last visited James Bond, we pretty much found out how he developed into the character he is today - a suave, never-aging man who does well "with the ladies" (as they probably would put it in the 1930's). However, he still had not found his father, but knows he is in some Speakeasy in Miami.

When he gets there, John shows him the speakeasy that is most popular there, O'Shaughnessey's. In they go.

James notices a figure, up by the bar, who is drinking quite a bit of whisky. To show everyone how good it tastes. It looks like his father. He goes up to him and states "Roger Bond, I presume?" Roger says, "How did you know my name?" James answers back "I am your son - Bond, James Bond."

Roger states "my, I didn't recognize you." James answers back "Because you dumped me off at Eton five years ago, and you have been too drunk to come back!" Roger asks "why are you not in Eton?" James goes thru the entire story. Both Frank and Neville show themselves to Roger, who, after a while, barely recognizes them - although that is because he is intoxicated, as usual.

James pulls Roger aside, and reminds him of his duty to renegotiate the loans with the partners at J.P. Morgan. Roger then states "James, you have been misled. I am supposed to deliver the faux plans to the Japanese, so they do not invade Manchuria." Both Frank and Neville, not wanting to reveal state secrets, do not correct him.

Instead, they have to figure a way out. John points out that his father has been carrying the plans whereever he goes. And he believes that his father is off to make another movie deal in Hollywood - err - to see his mistress Gloria in Hollywood. John knows something about the plans, because he saw them, but believes that are fake, too.

They need to hurry and get them, for time runs short. They go to the nearest airfield, in mechanic's gear. As airplanes are not cheap, it is well guarded. A gunfight breaks out, and several guards are disabled - after all, they do not have tommy guns. James runs into the hanger, grabs some keys. They he gets as much gas as possible, throws it aboard one of the smaller planes (that holds five people), and they all get aboard.

James tries one key. Then another. Then another. He is fumbling around, and finds the right key. He finally starts the plane, and the propeller gets going. Just in time, as more guards run toward the plane. James manages to get it off the ground, and races thru the night air.

Then James asks "does anyone know how to fly this thing?" No one does. James has to somehow manuever, and learn to steer. As the radio equipment at the airfield was destoyed, no one can tell about a stolen plane.

Amazingly, despite a bumpy ride, James quickly learns how to fly the thing. About four in the morning, when fuel runs low, he has to land, so picks a piece of highway in rural Florida. He initially does a nosedive, then forces the plane upright, and make a landing that frightens everyone aboard. And he refuels.

It goes this way continually for a long time. For whatever reason, James does not need sleep. And he keeps being able to refuel - until he runs out. By this time, however, he is very tired, and forgets to refuel.

Somewhere over Mississippi, he notices the plan sputtering. He suddenly reawakens, grabs control of the steering mechanism, but the plan keeps going down! He looks down, and sees a wide river. The Mississippi. He aims for the river, pulls up, and makes a large splash in the river. Fortunatelly, no one is injured - well, some have whiplash, but being tough guys, they all manage to ignore it, and their symptoms go away after a couple of days.

The plane begins to sink, and they have to get to shore. So James dives in the water. Suddenly a water moccasin comes up, does a hiss. James grabs it by the neck, and hurls it away. Another one comes up. And an alligator. James quickly gets back in the cabin, when several guns fire off an a nest of them (in the river).

Fortunately, while hiding away to grab a drink, Roger finds large bunch of rubber. It turns out to inflate. They all take turns, inflate the thing, and jump in the water, w/ the boat. About thirty seconds later, the plane sinks, but they manage to get away just in time (just like any adventure movie). Of course, everyone gets all there stuff off, which is their weapons and enough ammo to supply a whole army, and in Rogers case, enough booze for a small army.

They find someones truck, hotwire it, and then drive up to St. Louis. John states that his father's train will arrive there in a week. Since he is rich, he buys tickets for the train. And sure enough, the train comes into the station.

They travel aboard the train. John hears orders to come to the private car - as his father spotted him there. His father reads him the riot act. And orders him to bring the other four in.

So they go to his car. Joseph then orders his men to hold them hostage. And they attempt to gather them, at which point Frank and Neville pull out their tommy guns and shoot up the car. James has his pistol, ready to aim for protection. Somehow, Roger finds the dossier, and grabs it off of Joseph's desk. "Get them!" Joseph screams.

All four start running thru the train, Neville and Frank launching rounds with their tommy guns, and James firing as necessary. John follows his father. They are safe, until they get to the front of the train. At that point, they are met by a spray of bullets themselves. Since Neville and Frank are in the front, they get splattered with bullets. And die. James fires off two rounds, and shuts and locks the door. He runs, Roger stumbles, to the next car. James orders his father to disconnect the train. Roger disconnects the rear cars, and that rolls to a stop. James is befuddled, hears poinding on the doors of the car in front. He then disconnects his car from the rest of the train. The main train pulls ahead, and it is about 150 feet ahead by the time the doors open. At which time It is going too fast for the thugs to do anything - except to fire off some rounds. Both he and Roger jump off the train, which is somewhere near Denver.

James and Roger now walk toward Denver. They are soon met up by John. When they get to Denver, they decide to go to San Francisco. John dissuades them, however, because the father has communicated via telegraph to the authorities of the stolen plan, their route, and he suggests they go to another city. He buys them tickets to Seattle, instead. He then wishes James good luck with his career, and James wishes John good luck with his endeavors. Both will remember the adventures they had together, and maybe then can meet up again someday?

Roger and James go from Denver to Seattle without incident. They initially go to the waterfront, but notice that there appears to be heightened security for all boats going to the orient. They then go to the airfield, and the same story there.

In a cafe, they are discussing their options, when they notice that there is a seaplane port in a cove in a lake north of Seattle, in Kenmore. They get a taxi to this obscure location.

When they are there, they notice that there is a pilot waiting to take mail to Vancouver. James pulls out his gun, and orders that they take them instead of the mail. At which point he has no choice. They then fly to Vancouver, and they are able to board a ship there. However, James realizes there may be agents in Shanghai, so they buy tickets to Tokyo, instead.

Next time, adventures in the orient!