Mary Goodnight
Encyclopedia
Mary Goodnight is a fictional character from the James Bond
universe.
who is now the secretary to the 00 Section
, which includes James Bond. Replacing the section's previous secretary, Loelia Ponsonby, Goodnight has a less severe, more bubbly and adventuresome personality than her predecessor. Making her first appearance in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, she is described as "a honey," and there was speculation among the 00 agents as to which of them would be able to seduce her first. (Bond was tied with 006 as the favourite but backed out of the competition after becoming involved with his future wife Tracy
.) She has an excellent figure and has blue-black hair, although two novels later, in The Man with the Golden Gun
her hair is blond to the point that it shines almost silver in moonlight.
In You Only Live Twice, Goodnight is a bit more serious than she was in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, showing concern for Bond as he slips into a round of self-destructive behaviour following Tracy's death. Her appearance in this novel is little more than a cameo, although she is permitted to add a few lines to Bond's premature obituary.
In the final Fleming novel in which she appears, The Man with the Golden Gun, Goodnight's role is expanded to a full-fledged Bond-girl. Having transferred to the Secret Service's Kingston station in Jamaica
after Bond's presumed death, she assists Bond in building a cover for himself as he goes after the gunman Francisco Scaramanga
, at one point posing briefly as Bond's fiancée. When Scaramanga tricks Bond into believing that the mannequin
across the tracks of the small railroad on which they are travelling is Goodnight, the deception triggers a running gun battle between Bond and Felix Leiter
on the one hand and Scaramanga and his associates on the other.
In all three novels in which she appears, Mary Goodnight shows what appears to be some genuine affection for Bond. Despite having a pronounced wholesome, modest, and almost sisterly aspect to her personality, at the end of The Man With the Golden Gun she invites a hospitalized Bond to finish his recuperation in her rented villa in the Blue Mountains
. Since Bond is required to have careful supervision upon his release from the hospital this may in fact be an innocent offer on her part though it may not because of her comment on the community not minding unmarried couples sharing a house, and Fleming leaves unanswered the questions of whether Bond takes her up on her offer and of whether, if he does, the two end up sleeping together. Mary Goodnight can be considered the only Bond Girl of the novels to make actual appearances in multiple stories, as opposed to being merely referenced; (Miss Moneypenny
also made several novel appearances but many would question whether she is considered a "Bond Girl".)
Goodnight was one of several characters revived by Jeffrey Deaver for his 2011 Bond novel, Carte Blanche
. Once again, the character is established as being Bond's secretary, with Deaver taking the liberty of describing her as looking similar to the actress Kate Winslet
. Like most MI6 characters in the novel, Goodnight plays a supporting role only and disappears from the narrative about one-third of the way into the book.
, Goodnight, played by Britt Ekland
, is a Secret Service staffer, more ditzy than in the novels. She assists Bond when he is following Andrea Anders
in Hong Kong
. Very quickly it is established that she has as-yet unfulfilled designs on Bond. When they first meet on screen the premise is that they already know each other, the only time this has happened with a Bond girl.
After Goodnight shows Bond where Miss Anders is staying, she hopes to spend the evening with Bond, but 007 declines, as he has his meeting with Hai Fat. Later in the film, Goodnight is embarrassingly pushed into the wardrobe of Bond's hotel room when Miss Anders enters Bond's bedroom. Goodnight falls asleep in the closet as Anders and Bond have sex; after Anders leaves, Bond wakes Goodnight and condescendingly tells her "Your turn will come, I promise."
At the meeting point with Anders, Goodnight takes the Solex, but whilst placing a homer on Francisco Scaramanga
's AMC Matador
, she is pushed into the car's trunk. Bond meets up with Goodnight on Scaramanga's island where later she knocks the maintenance man into a pool of liquid helium
- which causes the power plant to gradually overheat and explode, ripping the island apart. Bond and Goodnight manage to escape, and after dealing with Nick Nack, Goodnight manages to finish what she started with Bond on "a slow boat from China
."
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
universe.
Novel biography
In the novels, Mary Goodnight is a former WrenWomen's Royal Naval Service
The Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
who is now the secretary to the 00 Section
00 Agent
In Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and the derived films, the 00 Section of MI6 are considered the secret service's elite. A 00 agent holds a licence to kill in the field, at his or her discretion, to complete the mission...
, which includes James Bond. Replacing the section's previous secretary, Loelia Ponsonby, Goodnight has a less severe, more bubbly and adventuresome personality than her predecessor. Making her first appearance in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, she is described as "a honey," and there was speculation among the 00 agents as to which of them would be able to seduce her first. (Bond was tied with 006 as the favourite but backed out of the competition after becoming involved with his future wife Tracy
Tracy Bond
Teresa "Tracy" Bond is a fictional character and the main Bond girl in the James Bond film and novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service...
.) She has an excellent figure and has blue-black hair, although two novels later, in The Man with the Golden Gun
The Man with the Golden Gun (novel)
The Man with the Golden Gun is the twelfth novel of Ian Fleming's James Bond series of books. It was first published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on 1 April 1965, eight months after the author's death. The novel was not as detailed or polished as the others in the series, leading to poor but polite...
her hair is blond to the point that it shines almost silver in moonlight.
In You Only Live Twice, Goodnight is a bit more serious than she was in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, showing concern for Bond as he slips into a round of self-destructive behaviour following Tracy's death. Her appearance in this novel is little more than a cameo, although she is permitted to add a few lines to Bond's premature obituary.
In the final Fleming novel in which she appears, The Man with the Golden Gun, Goodnight's role is expanded to a full-fledged Bond-girl. Having transferred to the Secret Service's Kingston station in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
after Bond's presumed death, she assists Bond in building a cover for himself as he goes after the gunman Francisco Scaramanga
Francisco Scaramanga
Francisco Scaramanga is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the James Bond film and novel The Man with the Golden Gun. The film was so named because it described Scaramanga's possession of a golden gun....
, at one point posing briefly as Bond's fiancée. When Scaramanga tricks Bond into believing that the mannequin
Mannequin
A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing...
across the tracks of the small railroad on which they are travelling is Goodnight, the deception triggers a running gun battle between Bond and Felix Leiter
Felix Leiter
Felix Leiter is a fictional CIA agent created by Ian Fleming in the James Bond series of novels and films. In both, Leiter works for the CIA and assists Bond in his various adventures as well as being his best friend. In further novels Leiter joins the Pinkerton Detective Agency and in the film...
on the one hand and Scaramanga and his associates on the other.
In all three novels in which she appears, Mary Goodnight shows what appears to be some genuine affection for Bond. Despite having a pronounced wholesome, modest, and almost sisterly aspect to her personality, at the end of The Man With the Golden Gun she invites a hospitalized Bond to finish his recuperation in her rented villa in the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (Jamaica)
The Blue Mountains form the longest mountain range in Jamaica. They include the island's highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, at 2256 m . From the summit, accessible via a walking track, both the North and South coasts of the island can be seen...
. Since Bond is required to have careful supervision upon his release from the hospital this may in fact be an innocent offer on her part though it may not because of her comment on the community not minding unmarried couples sharing a house, and Fleming leaves unanswered the questions of whether Bond takes her up on her offer and of whether, if he does, the two end up sleeping together. Mary Goodnight can be considered the only Bond Girl of the novels to make actual appearances in multiple stories, as opposed to being merely referenced; (Miss Moneypenny
Miss Moneypenny
Jane Moneypenny, better known as Miss Moneypenny, is a fictional character in the James Bond novels and films. She is secretary to M, who is Bond's boss and head of the British Secret Service...
also made several novel appearances but many would question whether she is considered a "Bond Girl".)
Goodnight was one of several characters revived by Jeffrey Deaver for his 2011 Bond novel, Carte Blanche
Carte Blanche (novel)
Carte Blanche is a James Bond novel written by Jeffery Deaver. Commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications, it was published in the United Kingdom by Hodder & Stoughton on 26 May 2011 and was released in the United States by Simon & Schuster on 14 June 2011...
. Once again, the character is established as being Bond's secretary, with Deaver taking the liberty of describing her as looking similar to the actress Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet
Kate Elizabeth Winslet is an English actress and occasional singer. She has received multiple awards and nominations. She was the youngest person to accrue six Academy Award nominations, and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Reader...
. Like most MI6 characters in the novel, Goodnight plays a supporting role only and disappears from the narrative about one-third of the way into the book.
Film biography
In the film The Man with the Golden GunThe Man with the Golden Gun (film)
The Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth spy film in the James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
, Goodnight, played by Britt Ekland
Britt Ekland
Britt-Marie Ekland is a Swedish actress and singer, and a long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her...
, is a Secret Service staffer, more ditzy than in the novels. She assists Bond when he is following Andrea Anders
Andrea Anders (James Bond)
Andrea Anders is a fictional character in James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. She is portrayed by Maud Adams. Throughout the film she is simply known as "Miss Anders."...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Very quickly it is established that she has as-yet unfulfilled designs on Bond. When they first meet on screen the premise is that they already know each other, the only time this has happened with a Bond girl.
After Goodnight shows Bond where Miss Anders is staying, she hopes to spend the evening with Bond, but 007 declines, as he has his meeting with Hai Fat. Later in the film, Goodnight is embarrassingly pushed into the wardrobe of Bond's hotel room when Miss Anders enters Bond's bedroom. Goodnight falls asleep in the closet as Anders and Bond have sex; after Anders leaves, Bond wakes Goodnight and condescendingly tells her "Your turn will come, I promise."
At the meeting point with Anders, Goodnight takes the Solex, but whilst placing a homer on Francisco Scaramanga
Francisco Scaramanga
Francisco Scaramanga is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the James Bond film and novel The Man with the Golden Gun. The film was so named because it described Scaramanga's possession of a golden gun....
's AMC Matador
AMC Matador
The AMC Matador is a mid-size car that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from 1971 to 1978. The Matador came in two generations: 1971 to 1973 and a major redesign from 1974 to 1978...
, she is pushed into the car's trunk. Bond meets up with Goodnight on Scaramanga's island where later she knocks the maintenance man into a pool of liquid helium
Liquid helium
Helium exists in liquid form only at extremely low temperatures. The boiling point and critical point depend on the isotope of the helium; see the table below for values. The density of liquid helium-4 at its boiling point and 1 atmosphere is approximately 0.125 g/mL Helium-4 was first liquefied...
- which causes the power plant to gradually overheat and explode, ripping the island apart. Bond and Goodnight manage to escape, and after dealing with Nick Nack, Goodnight manages to finish what she started with Bond on "a slow boat from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
."