In a mysterious tropical locale, James Bond (Sean Connery) is deep in an exhilarating mission where he adeptly infiltrates an enemy's stronghold. He deftly distracts, subdues, and takes out multiple guards as he makes his way to the compound’s main structure. Upon his arrival, after overcoming yet more adversaries, he stumbles into an adjoining bedroom where he discovers a kidnapped woman tied to the bed. As he frees her, she surprises him by clutching a concealed knife, stabbing him in the ribs.
Back at MI6 headquarters, Bond's superior, M (Edward Fox), along with a tactical analyst, reviews a playback of Bond's mission. To his chagrin, it turns out to be a staged exercise aimed at evaluating Bond's response under pressure. Despite his otherwise satisfactory performance, Bond faces harsh criticism for being "killed," which M attributes to his oversight of critical mission details. Bond argues that he was merely partaking in M's elaborate "war games," emphasizing he had only been injured once before during training. M, however, is unimpressed with Bond's excuses, especially given previous training yielded disastrous results, leaving Bond incapacitated. Subsequently, he orders Bond to have a period of recovery at Shrubland's, an exclusive rehabilitation center near London.
Entering the scene is Q (Alec McCowen), the ingenious Double-O section’s Quartermaster responsible for equipping Bond with specialized gadgets, along with Miss Moneypenny (Pamela Salem), M's ever-watchful secretary. Meanwhile, at a bank in France, the enchanting Fatima Blush (Barbara Carrera), who is number 12 in SPECTRE's hierarchy, demands entry to a secret meeting. Here, the notorious Blofeld (Max Von Sydow), leader of SPECTRE, unveils an audacious scheme called “The Tears of Allah.” This ambitious plan revolves around a jade pendant that Maximillian Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer) (#1) gives to his lover, Domino Petachi (Kim Basinger). Teaming up with Blush, Largo conspires to pilfer two nuclear cruise missiles, with the help of Jack Petachi (Gavan O'Herlihy), Domino's brother, who is set to undergo eye surgery to mimic the President of the United States.
At the rehabilitation center, Bond is subject to a stringent routine of exercise and diet, though he finds delight in sneaking indulgent treats to charm his nurse. One day, out of the window, he witnesses a heated altercation between the Petachis, leading to alarming speculation regarding his newfound acquaintances. Subsequently, Bond is ambushed by Lippe (Pat Roach), a hulking adversary, and a chaotic fight ensues, littering the rehabilitation center with wreckage and culminating in Lippe’s gruesome demise after he accidentally impales himself on shattered glassware.
Meanwhile, at an American air force base in Britain, Jack Petachi commits treachery as he stealthily replaces dummy warheads with real nuclear devices during a test flight. However, he meets an untimely end at the hands of Fatima, who causes a deadly accident. The stolen missiles are launched from a British stealth bomber, only to be intercepted by Largo’s operatives, who manipulate the missiles to crash into the ocean. SPECTRE then holds NATO ransom for the missiles, furthering their nefarious objectives.
Determined to uncover the truth, Bond investigates Petachi’s connection to Largo and tracks the duo to Nassau in the Bahamas. His inept MI6 contact, Nigel Smalls (Rowan Atkinson), provides little assistance but informs Bond of Largo's seemingly unblemished reputation. Here, Bond encounters Fatima Blush again, who lures him into a deep-sea adventure. However, while diving, Bond realizes Fatima's ulterior motives when she covertly attaches a tracking device to him.
Further intrigue unfolds when Bond learns of a charity event hosted by Largo, where he plans to get closer to his objective. After defeating Largo in a modern video game of strategy and wit, Bond cleverly capitalizes on their connection during a dance with Domino, revealing critical information about Jack’s demise. As tensions rise, Bond finds himself embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Fatima, leading to exhilarating motorcycle pursuits and high-stakes confrontations.
As the plot thickens, Bond’s relentless pursuit leads him into a deadly underwater battle against Largo as he attempts to thwart SPECTRE's diabolical plans involving nuclear weapons aimed at devastating worldwide repercussions. He ultimately faces Largo in an epic showdown in a submerged cave, where Domino intervenes in a stunning moment, forever changing the stakes.
In a reflective moment, during a holiday with Domino, Bond is approached by Nigel Smalls once again, delivering the news that M wishes for Bond to return to active service. But in a poignant moment of closure, Bond declares, "never again," a nod to Sean Connery’s iconic departure from the role.
