A
STAR WARS PAGE
Star Wars
Episode II: Attack of the Clones Script
EXT. SPAVE
A vast sea of stars serves as a backdrop for the Main Title,
following by a rollup, whcih crawls into infinity.
There
is unrest in the Galactic Senate
Several
thousand solar systems under
the
leadership of the rebel leader, Count
Dooku,
have declared their intentions to
Secede
from the Republic.
This
separatist movement has made it
Difficult
for the limited number of
Jedi
Knights to maintain peace and
Order
in the galaxy.
Senator
Amidala, the former Queen of
Naboo,
is returning to Coruscant
To
vote on the critical issue
Of
creating an army to assist the
Overwhelmed
Jedi.
PAN UP to reveal the amber city planet of Coruscant. A yellow
Naboo Fighter flies OVER CAMERA toward the planet, followed by a large Royal
Cruiser and two more Fighters.
EXT. CITYSCAPE, CORUSCANT - DAWN
The ships skim across the surface of the city landscape. The sun
glints off the chrome hulls of the sleek Naboo spacecraft as they navigate
between the buildings of the capital planet.
EXT. CORUSCANT, LANDING PLATFORM - DAWN
Two Naboo Fighters land on one leaf of a three-leaf-clover
landing platform. The Royal Starship lands on the central lead, and the third
Fighter lands on the remaining platform.
A small GROUP OF DIGNITARIES waits to welcome the Senator. One of
the members of the group as a well dressed JAR JAR BINKS, a member of the Galactic
Representative Commission, and DORME, Senator Amidala's handmaiden.
One of the FIGHTER PILOTS jumps from the wing of his ship and
removes his helmet. He is CAPTAIN TYPHO, SENATOR AMIDALA'S Security Officer. He
moves over to a WOMAN PILOT.
CAPTAIN TYPHO
We made it. I guess I was wrong,
there was no danger at all.
The ramp ; TWO NABOO GUARDS appear. SENATOR AMIDALA, ONE
HANDMAIDEN (VERSE) and FOUR TROOPERS descend the ramp. AMIDALA is more
beautiful now than she was ten years earlier when, as Queen, she was freeing
her people from the yoke of the Trade Federation.
The DIGNITARIES start to move forward. SENATOR AMIDALA reaches
the foot of the ramp, when suddenly there is a blinding FLASH and a huge
EXPLOSION. The DIGNITARIES and PILOTS are hurled to the ground as the starship
is destroyed.
Klaxons blare, alarms sound! CAPTAIN TYPHO and the TWO ESCORT
PILOTS get up and run to where SENATOR AMIDALA lies dying. Beyond, ARTOO DETOO
drops down from the Naboo Fighter and rolls toward the wreckage. The FEMALE
ESCORT PILOT kneels by SENATOR AMIDALA and takes off her helmet, revealing
SENATOR PADME AMIDALA.
PADMÉ
Cordé...
She gathers up her decoy double in her arms. Cordé's eyes are
open. She looks up at her.
CORDÉ
... I'm
sorry, m'lady... I'm... not sure I...
CORDÉ dies. PADMÉ hugs her.
AMIDALA
No!...
No!... No!...
PADMÉ lowers CORDÉ to the ground. She gets up and looks around at
the devastation. There are tears in her eyes.
AMIDALA
I should
not have come back.
CAPTAIN
TYPHO
M'Lady,
you are still in danger.
Amidala says nothing.
CAPTAIN
TYPHO
This vote
is very important. You did
your duty
and Cordé did hers. Now
come. (she
doesn't respond) M'Lady,
please!
She turns. They walk away. ARTOO lets out a small whimper and
rolls off after them.
EXT. SENATE BUILDING - DAY
The massive Senate Building glistens in the afternoon sun. Small
patches of fog have still to burn off.
INT. SENATE CHAMBER - DAY
The vast rotunda is buzzing with chatter. MAS AMEDDA, the Supreme
Chancellor's majordomo, tries to quiet things down as PALPATINE confers with an
AIDE, UV GIZEN, riding a small one man floating scooter.
MAS
AMEDDA
Order! We
shall have order! The motion
for the
Republic to commission an army
takes precedent, and that is what we
will vote
on at this time.
Everything quiets down. The AIDE disperses, and SUPREME
CHANCELLOR PALPATINE steps to the podium.
PALPATINE
...My
esteemed colleagues, excuse
me... I
have just received some
tragic and disturbing news. Senator
Amidala of
the Naboo system... Has
been
assassinated!
There is a shock silence in the vast arena.
PALPATINE
(continued)
This
grievous blow is especially
personal
to me. Before I became
Chancellor,
I served Amidala when
she was
Queen. She was a great
leader who
fought for justice, not
only in
this honourable assembly,
but also
on her home planet. She
was so
loved she could have been
elected
queen for life. She
believed
in public service, and
she
fervently believed in
democracy.
Her death is a great
loss to us
all. We will all mourn
her as a
relentless champion of
freedom...
and as a dear friend.
There is a moment of silence. ASK AAK, the SENATOR of MALASTARE, moves
his pod into the centre of the arena.
SENATOR
ASK AAK
How many
more Senators will die
before
this civil strife ends! We
must
confront these rebels now,
and they
need an army to do it.
A second pod moves into the centre of the area with DARSANA, the
AMBASSADOR OF GLEE ANSELM.
AMBASSADOR
DARSANA
Why
weren't the Jedi able to stop
this
assassination? We are no
longer
safe, under their protection.
Senator ORN FREE TAA swings forward in his pod.
ORN
FREE TAA
The Republic
needs more security
now!
Before it comes to war.
PALPATINE
Must I
remind the Senator from
Malastare
that negotiations are
continuing
with the separatists.
Peace is
our objective here... not
war.
The SENATORS yell pro and con. MAS AMEDDA tries to calm things
down. SENATOR PADME AMIDALA, with CAPTAIN TYPHO, JAR JAR, and DORME, manoeuvre
her pod into the centre of the vast arena.
AMIDALA
My noble
colleagues, I concur with
the
Supreme Chancellor. At all
costs, we
do not want war!
The Senate goes quiet, then there is an outburst of cheering and
applause.
PALPATINE
It is with
great surprise and
joy the
chair recognises the
Senator
from Naboo, Padmé Amidala.
PADMÉ
Less than
an hour ago, an
assassination
attempt was made
against my
life. One of my
bodyguards
and six others were
ruthlessly
and senselessly
murdered.
I was the target but,
more
importantly, I believe this
security
measure before you, was
the
target. I have led the
opposition
to build an army... but
there is
someone in this body who
will stop
at nothing to assure it's
passage...
Many of the SENATORS boo and yell at SENATOR AMIDALA.
PADMÉ
(continuing)
I warn you,
if you vote to create
this army,
war will follow. I
have
experienced the misery of war
first-hand;
I do not wish to do it
again.
There is sporadic yelling for and against her statements.
PADMÉ
Wake up,
Senators... you must wake
up! If you offer the separatists
violence,
they can only show us
violence
in return! Many will
lose their
lives. All will lose
their
freedom. This decision
could very
well destroy the very
foundation
of our great Republic.
I pray you
do not let fear push
you into a
disastrous decision.
Vote down
this security measure,
which is
nothing less than a
declaration
of war! Does anyone
here want
that? I cannot believe
they do.
There is an undercurrent of booing... and groaning. SENATOR ORN
FREE TAA moves his pod next to AMIDALA.
ORN
FREE TAA
My motion
to defer the vote must
be dealt
with first. That is the
rule of
law.
AMIDALA looks angry and frustrated. PALPATINE gives her a
sympathetic look.
PALPATINE
Due to the
lateness of the hour
and the
seriousness of this
motion, we
will take up these
matters
tomorrow. Until then, the
Senate
stands adjourned.
The giant towers of the
INT. CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE - DAY
CHANCELLOR PALPATINE sits behind his desk with TWO RED-CLAD ROYAL
GUARDS on either side of the door. YODA, PLOT KOON, KI-AD-MUNDI, and MACE WINDU
sit acress from him.
PALPATINE
I don't
know how much longer I can
hold off
the vote, my friends.
More and
more star systems are
joining
the separatists.
MACE
WINDU
If they do
break away -
PALPATINE
No! I will not let that happen!
MACE
WINDU
But if
they do, you must realise
there
aren't enough Jedi to
protect
the Republic. We are
keepers of
the peace, not soldiers.
PALPATINE
Master
Yoda, do you think it will
really
come to war?
YODA closes his eyes.
YODA
Worse than
war, I fear... Much
worse.
PALPATINE
What?
MACE
WINDU
What do
you sense, Master?
YODA
Impossible
to see ... The Dark Side
clouds
everything. But this I am
sure of -
(opens his eyes)
Do their
duty the Jedi will.
A muted BUZZER SOUNDS. A hologram of an AIDE, DAR WAC, appears on
the Chancellor's desk.
DAR
WAC
The
loyalist committee has arrived,
my Lord.
PALPATINE
Send them
in.
They all stand as SENATOR AMIDALA, CAPTAIN TYPHO, JAR JAR, MAS
AMEDDA, DORME, and SENATORS BAIL ORGANA, HOROX RYYDER and ORN FREE TAA enter
the office. YODA and MACE WINDU move to greet the SENATOR, YODA taps AMIDALA
with his cane.
YODA
With you
the force is strong...
young
Senator. To see you alive
brings
warm feeling to my heart.
PADMÉ
Thank you,
Master Yoda. Do you
have any
idea who was behind
the
attack?
MACE
WINDU
Our
intelligence points to
disgruntled
spice miners, on
the moons
of Naboo.
PADMÉ
I don't
wish to disagree but I
think that
Count Dooku was behind
it.
There is a stir of surprise.
MACE
WINDU
You know,
M'Lady, Count Dooku
was once a
Jedi. He wouldn't
assassinate
anyone, it is not in
his character.
KI-ADI-MUNDI
He is a
political idealist, not
a
murderer.
YODA
In dark
times nothing is what it
appears to
be, but the fact remains
Senator,
in grave danger you are.
PALPATINE gets up, walks to the window, and looks out at the vast
city.
PALPATINE
Count
Dooku has always avoided
any kind
of conflict. It appears
he has no
desire to start a war.
Why would
he kill you? To what end?
PADMÉ
I don't
know, but everything in my
being tells
me he was behind it...
After gazing out of the window for several moments Palpatine
turns to
Mace.
PALPATINE
Master
Jedi, may I suggest that
the
Senator be placed under the
protection
of your graces.
BAIL
ORGANA
Do you
think that is a wise use
of
manpower during these stressful
times?
PADMÉ
Chancellor,
if I may comment, I
do not
believe the...
PALPATINE
..."situation
is that serious."
No, but I
do, Senator.
PADMÉ
Chancellor,
please! I don't want
any more
guards!
PALPATINE
I realise
all too well that
additional
security might be
disruptive
for you, but perhaps
someone
you are familiar with... an
old friend
like... Master Kenobi...
PALPATINE nods to MACE WINDU, who nods back.
MACE
WINDU
That's
possible. He has just
returned
from a Border dispute on
Ansion.
PALPATINE
You must
remember him, M'Lady...
he watched
over you during the
blockade
conflict.
PADMÉ
This is
not necessary, Chancellor.
PALPATINE
Do it for
me, M'Lady, please. I
will rest
easier. We had a big
scare
today. The thought of
losing you
is unbearable.
AMIDALA sighs as the JEDI get up to leave.
MACE
WINDU
I will have
Obi-Wan report to you
immediately,
M'Lady.
YODA leans into her ear.
YODA
Too little
about yourself you
worry,
Senator, and too much about
politics.
Be mindful of your
danger,
Padmé. Accept our help.
As the JEDI leave the office, PALPATINE continues to pace behind
his desk.
PALPATINE
I will not
like this Republiv, that
has stood
for over a thousand
years, be
split in two
EXT. SENATE APARTMENTS - TWILIGHT
A graceful skyscraper twinkles in the evening light of Coruscant.
INT. SENATE BUILDING, APARTMENT CORRIDOR - EVENING
The door to the apartment slides open. JAR JAR walks into the
corridor, where TWO JEDI are exiting the elevator. He recognises OBI-WAN and
becomes extremely excited, jumping around, shaking his hand.
JAR
JAR
Obi! Obi!
Obi! Mesa sooo smilen
to see'en
yousa. Wahoooooo!
OBI-WAN smiles.
OBI-WAN
It's Good
to see you, too, Jar Jar.
JAR
JAR
Oops!
Wheresa mesa manners?
Excuse me,
Master Obi-Wan. I
completely
forgot myself for
a moment there. I have had to learn
Diplodiaclect...
speak it like a
native
now. Don't really see the
point,
actually, but members of
the Senate
seem to prefer it...
JAR JAR notices OBI-WAN'S APPRENTICE.
JAR
JAR
(continuing)
...and
this, I take it, is your
apprentice...
Nooooooooo! Annie?
Noooooooo!
Little Bitty Annie?
(Looks
at Anakin)
Nooooooo!
Yousa so biggen!
Yiyiyiyyi!
Annie!! Mesa no
believen.
ANAKIN
Hi, Jar
Jar.
JAR JAR grabs hold of ANAKIN and envelops him in a big hug.
JAR
JAR
Annie!
Annie! Yiyiyiyiyiyiiii!
INT. SENATE BUILDING, APARTMENT - EVENING
PADME is in a conference with CAPTAIN TYPHO and DORME. JAR JAR
enters the room, followed by the TWO JEDI.
JAR
JAR
Lookie...
lookie... Oops!... Oh,
dear, I'm
afraid I've forgotten
myself
again.
PADME and TYPHO rise as OBI-WAN and ANAKIN stop before the
SENATOR. OBI-WAN steps forward. ANAKIN stares at PADME. She glances at him.
OBI-WAN
It's a
great pleasure to see you again,
M'Lady.
PADMÉ
It has
been far too long Master
Kenobi.
I'm so glad our paths
have
crossed again... but I must
warn you
that I think your
presence
here is unnecessary.
OBI-WAN
I'm sure the
Jedi Council have
their
reasons.
She moves in front of ANAKIN
PADMÉ
Annie??
(stares)
My
goodness you've grown.
They look at each other for a long moment.
ANAKIN
(trying
to be smooth)
So have
you... grown more
beautiful,
I mean... and much
shorter...
for a Senator, I mean.
OBI-WAN looks disapprovingly at his apprentice. PADME laughs and
shakes her head.
PADMÉ
Oh Annie,
you'll always be that
little boy
I knew on Tatooine.
This embarrasses ANAKIN, and he looks down. OBI-WAN and CAPTAIN
TYPHO smile.
OBI-WAN
Our
presence will be invisible,
M'Lady.
CAPTAIN
TYPHO
I am very
grateful you are here,
Master
Kenobi. The situation is
more
dangerous than the Senator
will
admit.
PADMÉ
I don't need more security, I need
answers. I
want to know who is
trying to
kill me.
OBI-WAN
(frowning)
We're here
to protect you
Senator,
not to start an
investigation.
ANAKIN
We will
find out who is trying to
kill you Padmé,
I promise you.
He's done it again. He bites his lip in frustration and shame.
OBI-WAN gives ANAKIN a dirty look.
OBI-WAN
We are not
going to exceed our
mandate,
my young Padawan learner.
ANAKIN
I meant in
the interest of
protecting
her, Master, of course.
OBI-WAN
We are not
going through this
exercise
again, Anakin. You will
pay
attention to my lead.
ANAKIN
Why?
OBI-WAN
What??!!
ANAKIN
Why else
do you think we were
assigned
to her, if not to find
the
killer? Protection is a job
for local
security... not Jedi.
It's
overkill, Master.
Investigation
is implied in our
mandate.
OBI-WAN
We will do
as the Council has
instructed,
and you will learn
your place,
young one.
PADMÉ
Perhaps
with merely your presence,
the
mysteries surrounding this
threat
will be revealed. Now if
you will
excuse me I will retire.
Everyone gives AMIDALA a slight bow as she and DORME leave the
room.
CAPTAIN
TYPHO
Well, I
know I feel a lot better
having you
here.
I'll have
an officer on every
floor and
I'll be at the command
centre
downstairs.
JAR
JAR
Mesa
busten wit happiness seein
Yousa
again, Annie. Deesa bad
times,
bombad times.
Captain Typho leaves.
ANAKIN
She didn't
even recognise me, Jar
Jar. I
thought about her every
day since
we parted... and she's
forgotten
me completely.
JAR
JAR
Shesa
happy. Happier den mesa
see-en her
in longo time.
OBI-WAN
Anakin, you're
focusing on the
Negative
again. Be mindful of your
thoughts.
She was glad to see us.
Now lets
check the security here.
ANAKIN
Yes, my
master.
EXT. JEDI TEMPLE - EVENING
The vast Jedi Temple sits on an endless flat plain, silhouetted
by a against the traffic-filled sky.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, CORRIDOR - EVENING
MACE WINDU and YODA walk down the long hallways, silhouetted by a
lit room at the end.
MACE
WINDU
Why
couldn't we see this attack on
the
Senator?
YODA
Masking
the future, is this
disturbance
in the Force.
MACE
WINDU
The
propecy is coming true, the
Dark Side
is growing.
YODA
And only
those who have turned to
the Dark
Side can sense the
possibilities
of the future. Only
going
through the Dark Side can we
see.
MACE
WINDU
It's been
ten years, and the Sith
still have
no shown themselves.
Do you
think they are behind this?
YODA
...Out
there, they are. A
certainty
that is.
MACE WINDU
Do you
think Obi-Wan's apprentice
will be
able to bring balance to
the Force?
YODA
Only if he
chooses to follow his
destiny.
There is a long silence as they walk away. Only footsteps are
heard.
INT. SENATE BUILDING, AMIDALA'S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - NIGHT
PADME is asleep in her bed, lit only by the light of the city
outside her window coming through the blinds. ARTOO stands in the corner of the
bedroom. His power is off.
INT. SENATE BUILDING, AMIDALA'S APARTMENT, MAIN R0OM - NIGHT
ANAKIN is standing in the living room. He is in a meditative
state. It is quiet. We hear DISTANT FOOTSTEPS in the corridor outside the
apartment. Suddenly ANAKIN'S eyes pop open. His eyes dart around the room. He
reaches for his lightsaber, then smiles and puts it back in his belt.
The door to the apartment slides open, and OBI-WAN enters.
OBI-WAN
Captain
Typho has more than enough
men
downstairs. No assassin will
try that
way. Any activity up
here?
ANAKIN
Quiet as a
tomb. I don't like
just
waiting here for something to
happen to
her.
OBI-WAN checks a palm-sized view scanner he has pulled out of his
utility belt. It shows a shot of ARTOO by the door, but no sign of PADME on the
bed.
OBI-WAN
What's
going on?
ANAKIN shrugs.
ANAKIN
She
covered that camera. I don't
think she
liked me watching her.
OBI-WAN
What is
she thinking?
ANAKIN
She
programmed Artoo to warn us if
there's an
intruder.
OBI-WAN
It's not
an intruder I'm worried
about.
There are many other ways
to kill a
Senator.
ANAKIN
I know,
but we also want to catch
this
assassin. Don't we, Master?
OBI-WAN
You're
using her as bait??
ANAKIN
It was her
idea... No harm will
come to
her. I can sense
everything
going on in that room.
Trust me.
OBI-WAN
It's too
risky... and your senses
aren't
that attuned, young
apprentice.
ANAKIN
And yours
are?
OBI-WAN
Possibly.
INT. SENATE BUILDING, AMIDALA'S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - NIGHT
As PADME sleeps, a PROBE DROID approaches outside her window. It
sends out several small arms that attach to the window, creating sparks that
shut down the security system. Then a large arm cuts a small hole in the glass.
A FAINT SOUND is heard as the small section of glass is removed from the
window.
ARTOO wakes up, and his lights go on. The PROBE DROID freezes.
ARTOO looks around, makes a PLAINTIVE LITTLE SOUND, then shuts down again. The
PROBE DROID attaches a little tube to the window. TWO DEADLY LOOKING
CENTIPEDE-LIKE KOUHUNS exit the tube, crawl through the blinds and head toward
the sleeping PADME.
INT. SENATE BUILDING, AMIDALA'S APARTMENT, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT
ANAKIN and OBI-WAN continue their conversation in the main room
of the apartment.
OBI-WAN
You look
tired.
ANAKIN
I don't
sleep well, anymore.
OBI-WAN
Because of
your mother?
ANAKIN
I don't
know why I keep dreaming
About her
now. I haven't seen her
since I
was little.
OBI-WAN
Dreams
pass in time.
ANAKIN
I'd rather
dream of Padmé. Just
Being
around her again is...
intoxicating.
OBI-WAN
Mind your
thoughts, Anakin, they
betray
you. You've made a
commitment
to the Jedi order... a
commitment
not easily broken...
and don't
forget she's a
politician.
They're not to be
trusted.
ANAKIN
She's not
like the others in the
Senate,
Master.
OBI-WAN
It's been
my experience that
Senators
are only focused on
pleasing
those who fund their
campaigns...
and they are more
than
willing to forget the
niceties
of democracy to get those
funds.
ANAKIN
Not
another lecture, Master. Not
on the
economics of politics....
It's too early
in the morning... and
besides,
you're generalising. The
Chancellor
doesn't appear to
be
corrupt.
OBI-WAN
Palpatine's
a politician, I've
observed
that he is very clever at
following
the passions and
prejudices
of the Senators.
ANAKIN
I think he
is a good man. My
instincts
are very positive
about...
ANAKIN looks stunned. He looks sharply at OBI-WAN
OBI-WAN
I sense
it, too.
INT. SENATE BUILDING, AMIDALA'S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - NIGHT
ARTOO sounds an alarm and shines a light on the bed. THE KOUHUNS
are inches from PADME'S face. Their mouths are open, and wicked stinger tongues
flick out.
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN burst into the room. The KOUHUNS stand on
their hind legs and hiss as PADME wakes up. ANAKIN throws himself in front of
her, whacking in half the deadly creatures with his lightsaber.
OBI-WAN sees the DROID outside the window and raqces straight at
it, crashing through the blinds as he goes through the window.
EXT. WINDOW LEDGE, APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
OBI-WAN flies through the glass window and flings himself at the
PROBE DROID, grabbing onto the deadly machine before it can flee. The PROBE
DROID sinks under the weight of OBI-WAN but manages to stay afloat and fly
away, with the Jedi hanging on for dear life, a hundred stories above the city.
INT. SENATE BUILDING, AMIDALA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
ANAKIN and PADME stare at the sight of OBI-WAN being carried off
by the DROID. ANAKIN turns to her. She pulls her nightdress around her shoulders.
ANAKIN
Stay here!
CAPTAIN TYPHO, with TWO GUARDS and DORME, enter the room as
Anakin dashes out.
EXT. CITYSCAPE, CORUSCANT - NIGHT
The PROBE DROID sends several protective electrical shocks across
its surface, causing OBI-WAN to almost lose his grip. As they dart in and out
of the speeder traffic, OBI-WAN disconnects a wire on the back of the DROID.
Its power shuts off! OBI-WAN and the DROID drop like rocks. OBI-WAN realises
the error of his ways and quickly puts the wire back. The DROID'S systems light
up again and it takes off.
EXT. SENATE APARTMENTS - ENTRANCE - NIGHT
ANAKIN charges out of the building and runs to a line of parked
speeders. He vaults into an open one and takes off, gunning it fast toward the
lines of speeder traffic high above.
EXT. CITYSCAPE, CORUSCANT - NIGHT
The DROID bumps against a wall, hoping to knock the Jedi loose.
It moves behind a speeder afterburner to scorch him. It takesthe JEDI wildly
between buildings and finally skims across a rooftop as OBI-WAN is forced to
lift his legs, tenaciously hanging onto the DROID. The DROID heads for a dirty,
beat-up speeder hidden in an alcove of a building about twenty stories up. When
the pilot of the speeder, a scruffy bounty hunter called ZAM WESELL, sees the
DROID approach with OBI-WAN hanging on, she pulls a long rifle out of the
speeder and starts to fire at the JEDI. EXPLOSIONS burst all around OBI-WAN.
OBI-WAN
I have a
bad feeling about this.
FINALLY, the DROID suffers a direct hit and blows up. OBI-WAN falls
fifty stories, until a speeder drops down next to him, and he manages to grab
onto the back end of the speeder and haul himself toward the cockpit. The JEDI
struggles to climb into the passenger seat of the open speeder and sit down
next to the driver, ANAKIN.
ANAKIN
That was
wacky! I almost lost you
in the
traffic.
OBI-WAN
What took
you so long?
ANAKIN
Oh, you
know, Master, I couldn't
find a
speeder I really liked,
with an
open cockpit... and with
the right
speed capabilities...
and then
you know I had to get a
really
gonzo color...
They zoom upward in hot pursuit of ZAM asshe fires out the open
window at them with her laser pistol.
OBI-WAN
If you'd
spend as much time
working on
your saber skills as
you do on
your wit, young Padawan,
you would
rival Master Yoda as a
swordsman.
ANAKIN
I thought
I already did.
OBI-WAN
Only in
your mind, my very young
apprentice.
Careful!! Hey, easy!!
As this conversation is going on, ANAKIN deftly moves in and out
of the oncoming traffic, across lanes, between buildings, and miraculously
through a construction site. ZAM WESELL continues firing at them.
ANAKIN
Sorry, I
forgot you don't like
flying,
Master.
OBI-WAN
I don't
mind flying... but
what
you're doing is suicide!
They barely miss a commuter train
ANAKIN
Master,
you know I've been flying
since
before I could walk. I'm very
good at
this.
OBI-WAN
Just slow
down!
ZAM WESSEL and the JEDI race through a line of cross-traffic made
up of giant trucks. The speeders bank sideways as they slide around right-angle
turns between buildings. ZAM races into a tram tunnel.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
Wait! Don't
go in there!
ANAKIN zooms into the tunnel after ZAM. They see a tram coming at
them. They brake, turn around, and race out, barely ahead of the charging
commuter transport.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
You know I
don't like it when you
do that!
ANAKIN
Sorry,
Master. Don't worry, this
guy's
gonna kill himself any
minute
now!
ZAM WESSEL turns into oncoming traffic, deliberately trying to
throw the JEDI off. Oncoming speeders swerve, trying to avoid ZAM and the JEDI.
ZAM does a quick, tight loop-over and ends up behind the JEDI. She is now in a
much better position to fire at them with her laser pistol. To avoid being hit
by the laser bolts, ANAKIN slams on the brakes and moves alongside ZAM. She now
fires point-blank at OBI-WAN.
OBI-WAN
What are
you doing? He's gonna
blast me!
ANAKIN
Right -
this isn't working.
ANAKIN slides underneath Zam's speeder. They race along in
traffic, one speeder right on top of the other. The BOUNTY HUNTER skims over
the rooftops, causing ANAKIN to drop behind. ANAKIN goes through his gears,
zooming around traffic. They race at high speed across a wide, flat surface of
the city planet. A large spacecraft almost collides with them as it attempts to
land. They round a corner and clip a flag, which gets caught on one of the
front air scoops.
OBI-WAN
That was
too close!
ANAKIN
Clear
that!
OBI-WAN
What??
ANAKIN
Clear the
flag! We're losing
power!
Hurry!
OBI-WAN leans out of the speeder, then crawls out onto the front
engine, pulling the flag free of the scoop. The speeder lurches forward with a
surge of power.
OBI-WAN
Whooooaaa!
Don't do that! I
don't like it when you do that!
ANAKIN
So sorry,
Master.
They chase the BOUNTY HUNTER through a power refinery.
OBI-WAN
It's
dangerous near those power
couplings!
Slow down! Don't go
through
there!
Huge electrical bolts shoot between the buildings as the speeders
pass.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
Yiiii,
what are you doing?
ANAKIN
Sorry,
Master!
OBI-WAN
(sarcastically)
Oh, that
was good...
ANAKIN
That was
crazy!!!
ZAM slides around a corner sideways, blocking an alley, firing point-blank
as ANAKIN approaches.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
Ahh, damn.
OBI-WAN
Stop!!
ANAKIN
No, we can
make it.
ANAKIN barely misses the BOUNTY HUNTER'S speeder as he dives
under it, and through a small gap in the building hitting several pipes and
going wildly out of control. ANAKIN struggles to regain control of the speeder,
narrowly missing a crane, barely clipping a pair of giant struts. A giant
gasball shoots up, causing ANAKIN to spin and bump a building, stalling the
speeder.
OBI-WAN
I'm
crazy... I'm crazy... I'm
crazy.
ANAKIN
But it
worked... we made it.
OBI-WAN
(angrily)
It didn't
work... we've stalled!
And you
almost got us killed!
ANAKIN
I think
we're still alive.
ANAKIN works to get the speeder started. It quickly races to
life.
OBI-WAN
(very
angrily)
It was
stupid!
ANAKIN
(sheepishly)
I could
have made it...
OBI-WAN
(furious)
But you
didn't!!! And now we've
lost him.
Suddenly, there is an ambush. Laser bolts fire everywhere.
EXPLOSIONS surround them. They look up to see ZAM WESSEL take off.
ANAKIN
No we
didnt...
Out of a cloud of smoke and ball of flames the JEDI tear after ZAM.
They are smoking. OBI-WAN slaps out the small fire on the dashboard. ZAM goes
up and down, through cross-traffic. There is a near miss as a speeder almost
hits them. ZAM turns down and left between two buildings. ANAKIN pulls up and
to the right
OBI-WAN
Where are
you going?! He went
down
there, the other way.
ANAKIN
This is a
shortcut... I think.
OBI-WAN
What do
you mean, You think?
What kind
of shortcut?! He went
completely
the other way! Youve
lost him!
ANAKIN
Master, if
we keep this chase
going,
that creeps gonna end up
deep
fried. Personally, Id very
much like
to find out who in the
hell he is
and who hes working
for...
OBI-WAN
(sarcastic)
Oh, so
thats why were going in
the wrong direction.
ANAKIN turns up a side street, zooming up several small
passageways, then stops, hovering about fifty stories up.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
Well, you
lost him.
ANAKIN
Im deeply
sorry, Master.
ANAKIN looks around front and back. He spots something. He seems
to
start counting to himself as he watches something below approach.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
Excuse me
for a moment.
ANAKIN jumps out of the speeder. OBI-WAN looks down and sees
Zams speeder about five stories below them cruising past. ANAKIN miraculously
lands on top of the Bounty Hunters speeder. The speeder wobbles under the
impact. ZAM looks up and realises what has happened.
ZAM takes off, and ANAKIN slides to the back strut and almost
slips off, but manages to hang on. ANAKIN works his way back to the speeders
cockpit, just as ZAM stops suddenly, and ANAKIN flies forward to the left front
fork. ZAM shoots at him with a laser pistol. There is a BLAST near ANAKIN'S
hand, which breaks off a piece of the speeder. ANAKIN slides to the right fork
of the speeder, where ZAM cant reach him. He scrambles to the top, holding
onto an air scoop.
OBI-WAN has jumped into the drivers seat of his speeder and is
deftly gaining on the rogue speeder. The two speeders dive through oncoming
traffic and then through cross traffic. Finally, ANAKIN is able to get hold of
his lightsaber and starts to cut his way through the roof of the speeder. ZAM
takes out her laser pistol and starts firing at the helpless JEDI, knocking the
sword out of his hand. OBI-WAN races under the speeder and catches the Jedi
weapon in the passengers seat.
ANAKIN sticks his hand into the cockpit and, using the Force,
pulls the gun out of ZAMS hand. She grabs the Jedis hand, and they struggle for
the weapon. It goes off, blowing a hole in the floor of the speeder. The
speeder careens wildly out of control. ZAM struggles to pull the speeder out of
its nose dive. OBI-WAN gets slowed down by traffic and loses sight of the
Bounty Hunters speeder.
Just as the dragster is about to nose dive into the ground, ZAM
pulls it out, and it slides hard on the pavement in a shower of sparks. ANAKIN
goes flying into the street.
EXT. ENTERTAINMENT STREET - NIGHT
ZAM exits the crashed speeder and runs. ANAKIN picks himself up
off the pavement and runs down the very crowded street.
It's the seedy underbelly of the city. Broken sidewalks, garish
lights reflected on the filthy puddles. It's pretty crowded with various ALIEN
LOW-LIFES, PANHANDLING DROIDS, and the occasional group of UPPERCLASS SLUMMERS.
ANAKIN barges into several of them as he chases after the fleeing
ZAM. He loses the Bounty Hunter in the crowd, them sees him again. The young
Jedi is having a very difficult time getting through the crowd.
Ahead, ZAM turns in through a door and disappears.
A nightclub sighs is flashing over the door. ANAKIN is just about
to follow ZAM when there is a sudden swirl of litter from downthrusters. PEOPLE
start moving out of the way, and the open speeder lands in the street beside
him. OBI-WAN gets out and walks over, holding out ANAKIN'S lightsaber.
OBI-WAN
Anakin!
ANAKIN
She went
into that club, Master.
OBI-WAN
Patience.
OBI-WAN hands ANAKIN the lightsaber.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
Here. Next
time try not to lose it.
ANAKIN
Sorry,
Master.
ANAKIN reaches for the lightsaber, but OBI-WAN holds it back.
OBI-WAN
A Jedi's
saber is his most
precious
possession.
ANAKIN
Yes,
Master.
He reaches for the lightsaber, OBI-WAN pulls it back.
OBI-WAN
He must
keep it with him at all
times.
ANAKIN
I know,
Master.
OBI-WAN
This
weapon is your life!
ANAKIN
I've heard
this lesson before...
OBI-WAN finally holds out the lightsaber and ANAKIN grabs it.
OBI-WAN
But, you
haven't learned anything,
Anakin.
ANAKIN
I try,
Master.
INT. NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN enter the nightclub bar, and everyone stares
at them
OBI-WAN
Why do I think you are going to be
the death
of me?!
ANAKIN
Don't say
that Master... You're
the
closest thing I have to a
father...
I love you. I don't want
to cause
you pain.
OBI-WAN
Then why
don't you listen to me?!
ANAKIN
I will.
I'll do better, I promise.
OBI-WAN
Do you see
him him?
ANAKIN
I think
he's a she...
OBI-WAN
Then be
extra careful...
(nods
to a room)
Check it
out.
OBI-WAN goes away.
ANAKIN
Where are you
going, Master?
OBI-WAN
To get a
drink.
OBI-WAN heads for the bar. ANAKIN blinks in surprise, then moves
into the room, where ALIEN FACES look back at him with hostility, suspicion,
and invitation as he moves among the tables. OBI-WAN arrives at the bar. He
signals the BARMAN.
CLOSE - Somewhere in the room a HAND moves to a pistol in its
holster and unsnaps the safety catch. At the bar, a glass is placed in from of
OBI-WAN. A drink is poured. He lifts the glass.
ELAN
SLEAZEBAGGANO
Wanna buy
some death sticks?
OBI-WAN looks at him. He moves his fingers slightly.
OBI-WAN
You don't
want to sell me death-
sticks.
ELAN
I don't
want to sell you death-
sticks.
OBI-WAN moves his fingers.
OBI-WAN
You want to
go home and rethink
your life.
ELAN
I want to
go home and rethink my
life.
He leaves. OBI-WAN lifts the drink and tosses it back.
CLOSE. The gun is drawn from its holster and held down out of
sight. The BOUNTY HUNTER starts to move toward the bar.
ANAKIN checks out ALIEN FACES. OBI-WAN signals for another drink.
The gun moves toward his unsuspecting back.
The drink is poured. OBI-WAN reaches for it. The gun is raised to
aim directly at his back, and suddenly OBI-WAN turns fast. His lightsaber
flashes. There is a shrill SCREAM and ZAM'S ARM hits the floor. The gun drops
from its twitching fingers. Blood spreads.
The room is silent. ALIENS rise menacingly from their seats, and
ANAKIN is suddenly at OBI-WAN's side, his lightsaber glowing.
ANAKIN
Easy...
Official business. Go
back to
your drinks.
Slowly, the ALIENS sit. Conversation resumes. Onstage, THE
PERFORMERS pick up their routine. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN lift ZAM and carry her
out.
EXT. ALLEY OUTSIDE NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN carry ZAM into the alley and lower her to the
ground. OBI-WAN attends to her wounded shoulder. She stares up hatefully at
ANAKIN. She winces in pain, then nods.
OBI-WAN
Do you
know who it was you were
trying to
kill?
ZAM
WESSEL
The
Senator from Naboo.
OBI-WAN
Who hired
you?
ZAM glares at OBI-WAN.
ZAM
WESSEL
It was
just a job.
ANAKIN
Tell us!
ZAM
WESSEL
That
Senator's gonna die soon
anyway,
and the next one won't
make the
same mistake I did...
OBI-WAN
This
wound's going to need
treatment.
ANAKIN
Who hired
you? Tell us... tell us
now!
ZAM glares hatefully.
ZAM
It was a
Bounty Hunter called...
There is a sudden FTZZZ sound. ZAM twitches. She blinks in surprise
and dies.
There is a WEOOSH from above. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN look up yo see
an ARMOURED ROCKET-MAN taking off from a roof high above. OBI-WAN looks down at
ZAM. He touches her neck and pulls out a small, wicked-looking dart.
OBI-WAN
Toxic Dart...
INT. SENATE BUILDING, AMIDALA'S APARTMENT - DAY
ANAKIN and JAR JAR stand near the door of the anteroom to PADME'S
bedroom. PADME and DORME move about packing luggage.
PADMÉ
Representative
Binks. I know I can
count on
you.
JAR
JAR
Yousa betchen mesa bottums.
PADMÉ
What?!
JAR
JAR
(coughs,
recovers)
Oh,
pardone-ay, Senator. I mean,
I am
honoured to accept this heavy
burden. I
take on this
responsibility
with deep humility
tinged with
an overwhelming pride.
(pompously)
It is not
every day that I am
called
upon to...
PADME kisses him on the cheek and gives him a hug. JAR JAR turns
red.
PADMÉ
You're a
good friend, Jar Jar. I
don't wish
to hold you up. I'm
sure you
have a great deal to do.
JAR
JAR
Of course,
M'lady.
JAR JAR bows and goes out. As he passes ANAKIN, he flashes a
dazzling smile... PADME is in a very bad mood.
PADMÉ
I do not
like this idea of hiding.
ANAKIN
Don't
worry. Now that the Council
has
ordered an investigation, it
won't take
Master Obi-Wan long to
find that
bounty hunter.
PADMÉ
(frustrated)
I haven't
worked for a year to
defeat the
"Military Creation Act"
not to be
here when its fate is
decided.
ANAKIN
Sometimes
we have to let go of our
pride and
do what is requested of
us.
PADMÉ
Pride?!?
Annie, you're young, and
you don't
have a very firm grip on
politics.
I suggest you reserve
your
opinions for some other time.
ANAKIN
Sorry,
M'lady. I was only trying
to...
PADMÉ
Annie! No!
ANAKIN
Please
don't call me that.
PADMÉ
What?
ANAKIN
Annie...
PADMÉ
I've
always called you that... it
is your
name, isn't it?
ANAKIN
It's
Anakin. When you say Annie
it's like
I'm still a little
boy... and
I'm not.
PADMÉ
I'm sorry,
Anakin. It's impossible
to deny
you've...
(looks
him over)
...that
you've grown up.
PADME smiles at ANAKIN. He becomes a little shy.
ANAKIN
Master
Obi-Wan manages not to see
it...
PADMÉ
Mentors
have a way of seeing more
of our
faults than we would like.
It's the
only way we grow.
ANAKIN
Don't get
me wrong... Obi-Wan is
a great mentor.
As wise as Master
Yoda and
as powerful as Master
Windu. I
am truly thankful to be
his
apprentice. Only... although
I'm a
Padawan learner, in some
ways... a
lot of ways... I'm ahead
of him.
I'm ready for the trials.
I know I
am! He knows it too. He
believes
I'm too unpredictable...
Other Jedi
my age have gone
through
the trials and made it...
I know I
started my training
late... but he won't
let me move
on.
PADMÉ
That must
be frustrating.
ANAKIN
It's
worse... he's overly
critical.
He never listens! He
just
doesn't understand! It's not
fair!
PADME cannot surpress a laugh. She shakes her head.
PADMÉ
I'm
sorry... You sounded exactly
like that
little boy I once knew,
when he didn't
get his way.
ANAKIN
I'm not
whining! I'm not.
PADME just smiles at him. DORME laughs in the background.
PADMÉ
I didn't
say it to hurt you.
ANAKIN
I know...
There is a brief silence. PADME comes over to ANAKIN.
PADME
Anakin...
They look into each other's eyes for the first time.
PADMÉ
(continuing)
Don't try
to grow up too fast.
ANAKIN
I am grown
up. You said it
yourself.
ANAKIN looks deep into PADME'S eyes.
PADMÉ
Please don't
look at me like that.
ANAKIN
Why not?
PADMÉ
Because I
can see what you're
thinking.
ANAKIN
(laughing)
Ahh... so,
you have Jedi powers
too?
DORME is watching with concern.
PADMÉ
It makes
me feel uncomfortable.
ANAKIN
Sorry,
M'lady.
ANAKIN backs away as PADME turns and goes back to her packing.
EXT. CORUSCANT, SPACEPORT FREIGHTER DOCKS, TRANSPORT BUS - DAY
A small bus speeds toward the massive freighter docks of Coruscant's
Industrial area. The spaceport is bustling with activity. Transports of various
sizes moves supplies and passengers as giant floating cranes lift cargo out of
starships. The bus stops before a huge intergalactic freighter starship. It
parks in the shadows of an overhang.
INT. CORUSCANT, SPACEPORT FREIGHTER DOCKS, TRANSPORT BUS - DAY
ANAKIN and PADME, dressed in Outland peasant outfits, get up and
head for the door where CAPTAIN TYPHO, DORME and OBI-WAN are waiting to hand
them their luggage. DORME is dressed to look like Senator Amidala.
CAPTAIN
TYPHO
Be safe,
m'lady.
PADMÉ
Thank you,
Captain. Take good
care of
Dorme... the threat's on
you two
now.
DORME
He'll be
safe with me.
They laugh, and PADME embraces her faithful handmaiden. DORME
start to weep.
PADMÉ
You'll be
fine.
DORME
It's not
me, M'Lady. I worry
about you.
What if they realise
I'm not
you?
PADMÉ
(looks
to Anakin)
Then my
Jedi protector will have
to prove how
grown up he is.
DORME and PADME smile. ANAKIN frowns as OBI-WAN pulls him aside.
OBI-WAN
Anakin,
you stay put on Naboo.
Do not
attract any attention. Do
absolutely
nothing without
checking
in with me or the Council.
ANAKIN
Yes,
Master.
OBI-WAN
(to
Padme)
I will get
to the bottom of this
plot
quickly, M'Lady. You'll be
back here
in no time.
PADMÉ
I will be
most grateful for your
speed,
Master Jedi.
ANAKIN
Time to
go.
PADMÉ
I know.
PADME gives DORME a last hug. ANAKIN picks up the luggage, and
the TWO PEASANTS exit the speeder bus, where ARTOO is waiting for them.
OBI-WAN
May the
Force be with you.
ANAKIN
May the
Force be with you, Master.
They head off toward the giant Starfreighter.
PADMÉ
Suddenly,
I'm afraid...
ANAKIN
I'm kinda
scared too. This is my
first
assignment on my own.
PADMÉ
There's
nothing to worry about...
we have
Artoo with us.
The two laugh.
OBI-WAN and CAPTAIN TYPHO watch ANAKIN and PADME disappear into
the
vastness of the spaceport with ARTOO trundling along behind them.
OBI-WAN
I hope he
doesn't try anything
foolish.
CAPTAIN
TYPHO
I'd be
more concerned about her
doing
something, than him.
EXT. FREIGHTER DOCKS - CORUSCANT - DAY
The freighter slowly takes off from the huge docks area of
Coruscant. It soon moves into the crowded skies.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, MAIN HALLWAY - LATE DAY
From high above, light streams down from the lofty ceilings.
OBI-WAN crosses the floor of the great hallway, heaading for the Analysis
Rooms.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, ANALYSIS CUBICLES - LATE DAY
OBI-WAN walks past several glass cubicles where work is going on.
He comes to an empty one and sits down in front of a console. A PK-4 ANALYSIS
DROID comes to life. A tray slides out of the console.
PK-4
Place the
subject for analysis on
the sensot
tray, please.
OBI-WAN puts the dart onto the traym which retracts into the
console. The DROID activates the system, and a screen lights up in from of
OBI-WAN.
OBI-WAN
It's a
toxic dart. I need to know
where it
came from and who made it.
PK-4
One
moment, please.
Diagrams and .... appear on the screem, scrolling past at great speed.
OBI-WAN watches as the screen goes blank. They tray slides out.
PK-4
(continuing)
As you can
see on your screen,
subject
weapon does not exist in
any known
culture. Markings
cannot be
identified. Probablt
self-made
by a warrior not
associated
with any known society.
OBI-WAN
Excuse me?
Could you try again
please?
PK-4
Master
Jedi, our records are very
thorough.
they cover eight
percent of
the galaxy. If I can't
tell you
where it came from,
nobody
can.
OBI-WAN picks up the dart and looks at it, then looks to the
DROID.
OBI-WAN
Thanks for
your assistance! You
may not be
able to figure this
out, but I
think I know someone
who might.
EXT. SPACE, STARSHIP FREIGHTER
The massive, slow-moving Freighter suddenly zooms away into
lightspeed.
INT. STARFREIGHTER, STORAGE HOLD - DAY
The great, gloomy hold is crowded with EMIGRANTS and their
belongings. To one side ARTOO is coming to the head of a food line, where
SERVERS are ladling out bowls of mush. ARTOO holds two bowls.
SERVER
Keep
moving! Keep moving!
ARTOO slips tube into a tub of mush and sucks up a large
quantity. With one of his little claw-arms, he grabs several chunks of
something that looks like brown bread. A SERVER sees him.
FOOD
SERVER
(continuing)
Hey! No
Droids!
ARTOO takes one last big suck and heads away from the food line.
The SERVER shouts after him angrily. The little droid moves past groups of
eating or sleeping EMIGRANTS and comes to where ANAKIN is sound asleep. The
young Jedi seems to be having a nightmare. He is very restless.
ANAKIN
No, no,
Mom, no...
He is sweating. PADME leans over to wipe some of the sweat from
his forehead. He wakes up with a start, then realises where he is. PADME simply
looks at him. He stares back, somewhat confused. ARTOO fills up two bowls with
mush.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
What?
PADMÉ
You seemed
to be having a
nightmare.
ANAKIN looks at PADME a little more closely, trying to see if he
has revealed any of his secrets. She hands him a bowl of mush and bread.
PADMÉ
(continuing)
Are you
hungry?
ANAKIN
Thank you.
PADMÉ
We went
into lightspeed a while
ago.
ANAKIN looks into PADME'S eyes.
ANAKIN
I look
forward to seeing Naboo
again.
I've thought about it every
day since
I left. It's by far the
most
beautiful place I've ever
seen...
PADME is a little unnerved by his intense stare.
PADMÉ
You were
just a little boy then.
It may not
be as you remember it;
time
changes your perception.
ANAKIN
I think
time has given me much
more
mature feelings to enhance my
perception.
PADMÉ
It must be
difficult having sworn
your life
to the Jedi... not being
able to
visit the places you
like... or
do the things you
like...
ANAKIN
Or be with
the people I love.
PADMÉ
Are you
allowed to love? I
thought
that was forbidden for a
Jedi.
ANAKIN
Attachment
is forbidden.
Possession
is forbidden.
Compassion,
which I would define
as
unconditional love, is central
to a
Jedi's life, so you might say
we're
encouraged to love.
PADMÉ
You have changed
so much
ANAKIN
You
haven't changed a bit. You're
exactly
the way I remember you in
my dreams.
I doubt if Naboo has
changed
much either.
PADMÉ
It
hasn't...
ANAKIN
I can't
wait to breathe the sweet
breeze
that comes off the rolling
hills.
Whenever I try to
visualise
the Force, those hills
are what I
see.
ANAKIN looks at PADME when he says this.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
I love
Naboo.
There is an awkward moment.
PADMÉ
(changing
the subject)
Were you
dreaming about you
mother earlier,
weren't you?
ANAKIN
Yes... I
left Tatooine so long
ago, my
memory of her is fading.
I don't
want to lose it. Recently
I've been
seeing her in my
dreams...
vivid dreams... scary
dreams. I
worry about her.
PADME gives ANAKIN a sympathetic look.
EXT. CORUSCANT, DOWNTOWN, BACK STREET - MORNING
OBI-WAN walks down the street. It is a pretty tough part of town.
Old buildings, warehouses, beat up speeders and transporter rigs occasional
"shiny freighters" hissing through.
OBI-WAN comes to a kind of alien diner. On the steamed-up windowa
it says "DEX'S DINER" in alien lettering. He goes inside.
INT. CORUSCANT, DEX'S DINER - MORNING
A young waitress, HERMIONE BAGWA, is wiping off a booth tabletop.
There is a counter with stools and a line of booths along the wall by the
window. A number of CUSTOMERS are eating - TOUGH-LOOKING WORKERS, FREIGHTER
DRIVERS etc. HERMIONE looks up as OBI-WAN comes in.
HERMIONE
Can I help
ya?
OBI-WAN
I'm
looking for Dexter.
HERMIONE'S eyes narrow.
HERMIONE
BAGWA
Waddya
want him for?
OBI-WAN
He's not
in trouble. It's
personal.
HERMIONE stares at OBI-WAN. There is a brief pause. Then she goes
to the open serving hatch behind the counter.
HERMIONE
BAGWA
Someone to
see ya, honey
(lowering
her voice)
A Jedi, by
the looks of him.
Steam billows out from the kitchen hatch behind the counter as a
huge head pokes through.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
Obi-Wan!
OBI-WAN
Hey, Dex.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
Take a
seat! Be right with ya!
OBI-WAN sits in a booth.
HERMIONE
BAGWA
You want a
cup of ardees?
OBI-WAN
Thank you.
HERMIONE moves off as the door to the counter opens and DEXTER
JETTSTER appears. He is big - bald and sweaty, old and alien. Not someone to
tangle with. He arrives, beaming hugely.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
Hey, ol'
buddy!
OBI-WAN
Hey, Dex.
DEXTER eases himself into the seat opposite OBI-WAN. He can just
make it. HERMIONE sets two mugs of steaming ardees in from of them.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
So, my
friend. What can I do for
ya?
OBI-WAN
You can
tell me what this is.
OBI-WAN places the dart on the table between them. DEX'S eyes
widen. He puts down his mug.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
Well,
whattaya know...
DEXTER picks up the dart delicately between his puffy fingers and
peers at it.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
(continuing)
I ain't seen
one of these since I
was
prospecting on Subterrel
beyond the
Outer Rim!
OBI-WAN
Do you
know where it came from?
DEXTER grins. He puts the dart down between them.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
This baby
belongs to them cloners.
What you
got here is a Kamino
Kyberdart.
OBI-WAN
Kamino
Kyberdart... I wonder why
it didn't
show up in any analysis
archive.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
It's these
funny little cuts on
the side
give it away...
Those
analysis droids you've got
over there
only focus on symbols,
you know.
I should think you Jedi
would have
more respect for the
difference
between knowledge and
wisdom.
OBI-WAN
Well, Dex,
if droids could think, we
wouldn't
be here, would we?
(laughing)
Kamino...
doesn't sound familiar.
Is it part
of the Republic?
DEXTER
JETTSTER
No, it's
beyond the Outer Rim.
I'd say
about twelve parsecs
outside
the Rishi Maze, toward the
south. It
should be easy to find,
even for
those droids in your
archive to
find. Those Kaminoans
keep to
themselves. They're
cloners.
Damned good ones, too.
OBI-WAN then picks up the dart, holding it midway between them.
OBI-WAN
Cloners?
Are they friendly?
DEXTER
JETTSTER
It
depends.
OBI-WAN
On what,
Dex?
Dexter grins.
DEXTER
JETTSTER
On how
good your manners are...
and how
big your pocketbook is...
EXT. NABOO SPACEPORT - DAY
The Starfreighter lands in the giant port city of Theed.
PADME, ANAKIN and ARTOO are among the EMIGRANTS streaming from
the Starfreighter and into the vast docking area. They exit onto the main
plaza.
EXT. NABOO PALACE, GRAND COURTYARD (NABOO) - AFTERNOON
The speeder bus pulls up and stops. PADME, ANAKIN, and ARTOO get
out. The great courtyard stretches out before them, and they see the
rose-colored dome of the palace on the far side. ARTOO WHISTLES. They pick up
their gear and start to cross the courtyard. ARTOO trundles behind them.
ANAKIN
If I grew
up here, I don't think
I'd ever
leave.
PADMÉ
(laughing)
I doubt
that.
ANAKIN
No,
really. When I started my
training,
I was very homesick and
very
lonely. This city and my Mom
were the
only pleasant things I
had to
think about... The problem
was, the more
I thought about my
Mom, the
worse I felt. But I
would feel
better if I thought
about the
palace - the way it
shimmers
in the sunlight - the way
the air
always smells of flowers...
PADMÉ
...and the
soft sound of the
distant waterfalls.
The first
time I saw
the Capital, I was very
young...
I'd never seen a
waterfall
before. I though they
were so
beautiful... I never
dreamed
one day I'd live in the
palace.
ANAKIN
Well, tell
me, did you dream of
power and
politics when you were
a little
girl?
PADMÉ
(laughing)
No! That
was the last thing I
thought
of. My dream was to help
in the
"Refugee Relief Movement."
I never
thought of running for
elected
office. But the more
history I studied,
the more I
realised
how much good politicians
could do.
So when I was eight, I
joined the
"Apprentice
Legislators",
then later on became
a
Senatorial advisor, with such a
passion
that, before I knew it, I
was
elected Queen. Partly because
I scored
so high on my education
certificate,
but for the most part
it was my
conviction that reform
was
possible. I wasn't the
youngest
Queen ever elected, but
now that I
think back on it, I'm
not sure I
was old enough. I'm not
sure I was
ready.
ANAKIN
The people
you served thought you
did a good
job. I heard they
tried to
amend the Constitution so
you could
stay in office.
PADMÉ
Popular
rule is not democracy,
Annie. It
gives the people what
they want,
not what they need.
And,
truthfully, I was relieved
when my
two terms were up. So
were my
parents. They worried
About me
during the blockade and
couldn't
wait for it all to be
over.
Actually, I was hoping to
have a family
by now... My
sisters
have the most amazing,
wonderful
kids... but when the
Queen
asked me to serve as
Senator, I
couldn't refuse her.
ANAKIN
I agree! I think the
Republic
needs
you... I'm glad you chose
to serve.
I feel things are going
to happen
in our generation that
will
change the galaxy in profound
ways.
PADMÉ
I think so
too.
ANAKIN and PADME walk toward the palace. ARTOO continues to
follow.
INT. NABOO PALACE, THRONE ROOM - AFTERNOON
QUEN JAMILLIA is seated on the throne, flanked by SIO BIBBLE and
a COUPLE OF ADVISORS. FOUR HANDMAIDENS stand close by, and GUARDS are at the
doors.
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
We've been
worried about you.
(takes
her hand)
I'm so
glad you're safe, Padmé.
PADMÉ
Thank you,
Your Highness. I only
Wish I
could have served you
better by
staying on Coruscant for
the vote.
SIO
BIBBLE
Given the
circumstances, Senator,
you know
it was the only decision
Her
Highness could have made.
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
How many
systems have joined Count
Dooku and
the separatists?
PADMÉ
About two
hundred. And more are
leaving
the Republic every day.
If the
Senate votes to create an
army, I'm
sure it's going to push
us into a
civil war.
SIO
BIBBLE
It's
unthinkable! There hasn't
been a
full-scale war since the
formation
of the Republic!
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
Do you see
any way, through
negotiations,
to bring the
separatists
back into the Republic?
PADMÉ
Not if they
feel threatened. The
separatists
don't have an army,
but if
they are provoked, they
will move
to defend themselves.
I'm sure
of that. And with no time
or money
to build an army, my
guess is
they will turn to the
Commerce
Guilds or the Trade
Federation
for help.
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
The armies
of commerce! Why has
Nothing
been done in the Senate
to
restrain them?
PADMÉ
I'm afraid
that, despite the
Chancellor's
best efforts, there
are still
many bureaucrats,
judges,
and even Senators on the
payrolls
of the Guilds.
SIO
BIBBLE
It's
outrageous! After all of
those
hearings, and the four trials in
the
Supreme Court, Nute Gunray is
still the
Viceroy of the Trade
Federation.
Do those money
mongers control everything?
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
Remember,
Counsellor, the courts
were able
to reduce the
Federation's
armies. That's a
move in
the right
direction.
PADMÉ
There are
rumours, Your Highness,
that the
Federation Army was not
reduced as
they were ordered.
ANAKIN
The Jedi
have not been allowed to
investigate.
It would be to be too
dangerous
for the economy, we were
told.
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
We must
keep our faith in the
Republic. The
day we stop
believing
democracy can work is
the day we
lose it.
PADMÉ
Let's pray
that day never comes.
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
In the
meantime, we must consider
your own
safety.
SIO BIBBLE signals. All the other ADVISORS and ATTENDANTS bow and
leave the room.
SIO
BIBBLE
(to
Anakin)
What is
your suggestion, Master
Jedi?
PADMÉ
Anakin's
not a Jedi yet, Counsellor.
He's still
a Padawan learner. I
was
thinking...
ANAKIN
(nettled)
Hey, hold
on a minute!
PADMÉ
Excuse me!
I was thinking I would
stay in
the Lake Country. There
are some
places up there that are
very
isolated.
ANAKIN
Excuse
me?! I am in charge of
security
here, M'Lady.
SIO BIBBLE and QUEEN JAMILLIA exchange a look. Something is going
on here.
PADMÉ
Annie, my
life is at risk, and
this is my
home. I know it very
well...
that is why we're here.
I think it
would be wise for you
to take
advantage of my knowledge
in this
instance.
ANAKIN
(takes
a deep breath)
Sorry,
M'Lady.
SIO
BIBBLE
(to
Anakin, amused)
She is
right. The Lake Country is
the most
remote part of Naboo.
Not many
people and a clear view
of the
surrounding terrain.
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
Perfect.
It's settled then.
ANAKIN glares at PADME. Then QUEEN JAMILLIA gets up, and they all
start to leave.
QUEEN
JAMILLIA
(continued)
Padmé, I
had an audience with your
father
yesterday. I told him what
was
happening. He hopes you will
visit your
mother before you
leave...
your family's very
worried
about you.
PADME looks worred. They ALL exit down the main staircase.
EXT. JEDI TEMPLE - DAY
The main entrance at the base of the huge temple is bustling with
activity. All sorts of JEDI are coming and going.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, ARCHIVES LIBRARY - DAY
A bronze bust of Count Dooku, stands among a line of other busts
of Jedi in the Archive Room. OBI-WAN stands in front it, studying the striking
features of the chiselled face.
On the walls, lighted computer panels seem to stretch into
infinity. Farther along the room in the background, FIVE JEDI are seated at
tables, studying archival material.
After OBI-WAN studies the bust for a few moments before MADAME
JOCASTA NU, the Jedi Archivist is standing next to him. She is an elderly,
frail-looking human Jedi. Tough as old boots and smart as a whip.
JOCASTA
NU
Did you
call for assistance?
OBI-WAN
(distracted
in thought)
Yes... yes,
I did...
JOCASTA
NU
He has a
powerful face, doesn't
he? He was
one of the most
brilliant
Jedi I have had the
privilege
of knowing.
OBI-WAN
I never
understood why he quit.
Only
twenty Jedi have ever left
the Order.
JOCASTA
NU
(sighs)
The Lost
Twenty... and Count Dooku
was the
most recent and the most
painful.
No one likes to talk
about it.
His leaving was a great
loss to
the Order.
OBI-WAN
What
happened?
JOCASTA
NU
Well, one
might say, he was always
a bit out
of step with the
decisions
of the Council... much
like your
old Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.
OBI-WAN
(surprised)
Really?
JOCASTA
NU
Oh, yes.
They were alike in many
ways. Very
individual thinkers...
idealists...
JOCASTA NU stares at the bust
JOCASTA
NU
(continuing
He was
always striving to become
a more
powerful Jedi. He wanted
to be the
best. With a lightsaber,
in the old
style of fencing, he
had no
match. His knowledge of
the Force was... unique. In the
end, I
think he left because he
lost faith
in the Republic. He
believed
that politics were
corrupt,
and he felt the Jedi
betrayed
themselves by serving the
politicians.
He always had very
high
expectations of government.
He
disappeared for nine or ten
years,
then he just showed up
recently
as the head of the
separatist
movement.
OBI-WAN
Interesting...
I'm still not sure
I
understand.
JOCASTA
NU
Well, I'm sure
you didn't call me
over here
for a history lesson.
Are you
having a problem, Master
Kenobi?
OBI-WAN
Yes, I'm
trying to find a planet
system
called Kamino. It doesn't
seem to
show upon any of the
archive
charts.
JOCASTA
NU
Kamino?
It's not a system I'M
familiar
with... Let me see...
JOCASTA NU leans over OBI-WAN'S shoulder, looking at the screen.
JOCASTA
NU
(continuing)
Are you
sure you have the right
co-ordinates?
OBI-WAN
(nodding)
According
to my information, it
should be
in this quadrant
somewhere...
just south of the
Rishi
Maze.
JOCASTA NU taps the keyboard and frowns.
JOCASTA
NU
No
co-ordinates? It sounds like the
kind of
directions you'd get from
a street
tout... some old miner or
Furbog
trader.
OBI-WAN
All three
actually.
JOCASTA
NU
Are you
sure it exists?
OBI-WAN
Absolutely.
JOCASTA
NU
Let me do
a gravitational scan.
OBI-WAN and JOCASTA NU studt the star map hologram.
JOCASTA
NU
There are
some inconsistencies
here.
Maybe the planet you're
looking
for was destroyed.
OBI-WAN
Wouldn't
that be on record?
JOCASTA
NU
It ought
to be. Unless it was very
recent.
(shakes
her head)
I hate to
say it, but it looks
like the
system you're searching
for
doesn't exist.
OBI-WAN
That's
impossible... perhaps the
archives
are incomplete.
JOCASTA
NU
The
archives are comprehensive and
totally
secure, my young Jedi.
One thing
you may be absolutely
sure of -
if an item does not
appear in
our records, it does not
exist!
OBI-WAN stares at her, then looks back at the map.
EXT. THEED, RESIDENTIAL AREA, SIDE STREET - AFTERNOON
PEOPLE are passing through the little street, OLD MEN are sunning
themslves, WOMEN are gossipping, KIDS are playing. ANAKIN, PADME and ARTOO turn
onto a side street. ANAKIN is back in his Jedi robes. PADME wear a beautiful
simple dress. She stops, beaming.
PADME
There's my
house!
PADME starts forward; ANAKIN hangs back.
PADME
(continuing)
What?
Don't say you're shy!
ANAKIN
(untruthfully)
No, but
I...
Suddenly, there are shouts from two little girils, RYOO (age 6)
and POOJA (age 4). They come running toward PADME.
RYOO
& POOJA
Aunt
Padme!! Aunt Padme!!
PADME
Ryoo!!
Pooja!!
PADME scoops up RYOO and POOJA and hugs them.
PADME
(continuing)
I'm so
happy to see you! This is
Anakin. Anakin,
this is Ryoo, and
this is
Pooja.
ANAKIN and the GIRLS say hello shyly. Then:
RYOO
& POOJA
Artoo!!!
As they see the droid, they hug him. ARTOO WHISTLES and BEEPS.
PADME laughs. ANAKIN and PADME go on toward the house. The GIRLS stay and play
with ARTOO.
INT. PADME'S PARENTS' HOUSE, MAIN ROOM - AFTERNOON
SOLA, PADME'S beautiful older sister, comes in from the kitchen
carrying a big bowl of food.
SOLA
(over
her shoulder)
They're
eating over at Jev
Narran's
later, Mom. They just
had a
snack. They'll be fine.
SOLA puts the bowl down on the table, where ANAKIN, PADME and
RUWEE NABERRIE (Padme's father) are coming into the room.
PADME
Anakin,
this is my sister, Sola.
SOLA
Hello,
Anakin.
ANAKIN
Hello.
SOLA sits, as JOBAL NABERRIE (Padme's mother) comes in with a
heaped bowl of steaming food.
JOBAL
You're
just in time for dinner. I
hope
you're hungry, Anakin.
ANAKIN
A little.
PADME
He's being
polite, Mom. We're
starving.
RUWEE
(grinning)
You came
to the right place at the
right
time. Sit down, son.
EVERYONE sits and starts passing food.
JOBAL
(to
Padme)
Honey,
it's so good to see you
safe. We
were so worried.
PADME gives JOBAL a dirty look. RUWEE smiles as he watches.
RUWEE
Dear...
JOBAL
I know, I
know... but I had to say
it. Now
it's done.
SOLA
Well, this
is exciting! Do you
know,
Anakin, you're the first
boyfriend
my sister's ever brought
home?
PADME
(rolls
her eyes)
Sola!! He
isn't my boyfriend!
He's a
Jedi assigned by the Senate
to protect
me.
JOVAL
A
bodyguard?! Oh, Padme! They
didn't
tell us it was that serious!
PADME
It's not,
Mom, I promise.
(glances
at Jobal)
Anyway,
Anakin's a friend. I've
known him
for years. Remember
that
little boy who was with the
Jedi
during the blockade crisis?
They nod.
PADME
(continuing)
He grew
up.
JOBAL
Honey, when
are you going to
settle
down? Haven't you had
enough of
that life? I certainly
have!
PADME
Mom, I'm
not in any danger.
RUWEE
(to
Anakin)
Is she?
ANAKIN
...Yes...
I'm afraid she is.
PADME
(quickly)
But not
much.
EXT. PADME'S PARENTS' GARDEN - AFTERNOON
ANAKIN and RUWEE are walking.
RUWEE
Sometimes
I wish I'd traveled
more...
but I must say, I'm happy
here.
ANAKIN
Padme
tells me you teach at the
university?
RUWEE
(nodding)
Yes, and
before that, I was a
builder. I
also worked for the
Refugee
Relief Movement, when I
was very
young.
INT. PADME'S PARENTS' HOUSE, MAIN ROOM - AFTERNOON
PADME, SOLA and JOBAL are clearing the table.
SOLA
Why
haven't you told us about him?
PADMÉ
What's
there to talk about? He's
just a
boy.
SOLA
A boy?
Have you seen the way he
looks at
you?
PADMÉ
Sola -
stop it!
SOLA
It's
obvious he has feelings for
you. Are
you saying, little baby
sister, that you haven't noticed?
PADMÉ
I'm not
your baby sister, Sola.
Anakin and
I are friends... our
relationship
is strictly
professional.
(to
Jobal)
Mom, would
you tell her to stop it?
SOLA
(laughing)
Well,
maybe you haven't noticed
the way he
looks at you. I think
you're
afraid to.
PADMÉ
Cut it
out.
JOBAL
Sola's
just concerned... we all
are.
PADMÉ
Oh, Mom,
you're impossible. What
I'm doing
is important.
JOBAL
You've done
your service, Padmé.
It's time
you had a life of your
own.
You're missing so much!
EXT. PADME'S PARENTS' GARDEN - AFTERNOON
ANAKIN and RUWEE are walking in the garden. RUWEE stops and faces
ANAKIN directly.
RUWEE
Now tell
me, son. How serious is
this
thing? How much danger is my
daughter
really in?
ANAKIN
There have
been two attempts on
her life.
Chances are there'll be
more. My
Master is tracking down
the
assassins. I'm sure he'll find
out who
they are. This situation,
won't last
long.
RUWEE
I don't
want anything to happen to
her.
ANAKIN
I don't
either.
INT. PADME'S PARENTS' HOUSE, PADME'S ROOM - AFTERNOON
PADME throws some things into a bag.
PADME
Don't worry,
this won't take long.
ANAKIN
I just
want to get there before
dark.
PADME goes on packing. ANAKIN looks around the room.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
You still
live at home.
PADME
I move
around so much, I've never
had a place
of my own. Official
residences
have no warmth. I feel
good here.
I feel at home.
ANAKIN
I never
had a real home. Home was
always
where my Mom was.
ANAKIN picks up a framed hologram.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
Is this
you?
The hologram shows Padme at age seven or eight surrounded by
forty or fifty little green creatures. She is holding one in her arms. They are
all smiling hugely.
PADME
That was
when I went with the
Relief
Group to Shadda-Bi-Boran.
Their sun
was imploding, and the
planet was
dying. I was helping
to
relocate the children. See
that
little one I'm holding? His
name was
N'a-kee-tula, which means
sweethear.
He was so full of
life,. All
those kids were. I did
everything
I could to save him,
but he
died... they all did. They
were never
able to adapt... to
live off
their native planet.
ANAKIN picks up another hologram. It shows PADME at age ten or
eleven. She is wearing official robes and standing between two robed legislators.
Her expression is severe.
PADME
(continuing)
My first
day as an Apprentice
Legislator.
Notice the difference?
PADME pulls a face. ANAKIN grins. She continues packing. ANAKIN
sets the two holograms down side by side - the beaming little girl, and the the
stern, unsmiling adolescent.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, MAIN HALLWAY - DAY
OBI-WAN walks through the main hallway to the training area.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, TRAINING VERANDA - DAY
OBI-WAN comes out onto the veranda and stops, watching TWENTY or
so FOUR-YEAR-OLDS doing training exercises, supervised by YODA. They wear
helmets over their eyes and try to strike little TRAINING DROIDS with their
miniature lightsabers. The DROIDS dance in front of them.
YODA
Don't
think... feel... be as one
with the
Force. Help you, it will.
(he
sees Obi-Wan)
Younglings
- enough! A visitor we>
have.
Welcome him.
The CHILDREN take off their helmets and turn off their
lightsabers.
YODA
(continuing)
Master
Obi-Wan Kenobi, meet the
mighty Bear Clan.
CHILDREN
Welcome,
Master Obi-Wan!
OBI-WAN
I am sorry
to disturb you, Master.
YODA
What help
to you, can I be?
OBI-WAN
Im
looking for a planet described
to me by
an old friend. I trust
him. But the
system doesnt show
up on the
archive maps.
YODA
An
interesting puzzle. Gather
round the
map reader, younglings.
Master
Obi-Wan has lost a planet.
Find it,
we will try...
The map reader is a small shaft with a hollow opening at the top.
The CCHILDREN gather around it. OBI-WAN takes out a little glass ball and
places it into the bowl. The window shades close darkening the room and the
reader lights up, projecting the star map hologram into the room. The CHILDREN
laugh. Some of them reach up to try and touch the nebulae and stars. OBI-WAN
walks into the display.
OBI-WAN
This is
where it ought to be...
but it
isnt. Gravity is pulling
all the
stars in this area inward
to this
spot. There should be a
star
here... but there isnt.
YODA
Most
interesting. Gravitys
silhouette
remains, but the star
and all
its planets have
disappeared.
How can this be?
There is a brief pause. Then a CHILD puts its hand up. YODA nods.
JEDI
CHILD JACK
Because someone
erased it from the
archive
memory.
CHILDREN
Thats
right! Yes! Thats what
happened!
Someone erased it!
JEDI
CHILD MAY
If the
planet blew up, the gravity
would go
away.
OBI-WAN stares; YODA chuckles.
YODA
Truly wonderful,
the mind of a
child is.
Uncluttered. To the
centre of
the pull of gravity go,
and find
your planet you will.
OBI-WAN
But Master
Yoda who could have
erased
information from the
archives?
Thats impossible,
isnt it?
YODA
(frowning)
Much
harder to answer, that
question
is.
EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, WATER SPEEDER, LANDING PLATFORM - LATE
AFTERNOON
A water speeder driven by PADDY ACCU, the retreat caretaker,
skims across the lake away from the island landing platform where a chrome
Naboo Starship rests. ANAKIN and PADME are sitting in the speeder as it skims
away to where a lodge rises on a beautiful island in the middle of the lake.
EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, LODGE, GARDEN TERRACEM LATE AFTERNOON
ANAKIN and PADME walk up the stairs from where the water speeder
is parked onto a terrace overlooking a lovely garden. Behind them, PADDY ACCU
supervises two serving girls, NANDI and TECKLA, as they carry the bags into the
Lodge.
ANAKIN and PADME stop at the balustrade. PADME looks out across
the garden to the shimmering lake and the mountains rising beyond. ANAKIN looks
at her silently.
PADMÉ
When I was
in Level Three, we used
to come
here for school retreat.
See that
island? We used to swim
there
every day. I love the water.
ANAKIN
I do too.
I guess it comes from
growing up
on a desert planet.
PADME becomes aware that ANAKIN is looking at her.
PADMÉ
...We used
to lie on the sand and
let the sun dry us...
and try to
guess the names
of the birds
singing.
ANAKIN
I dont
like sand. Its coarse
and rough
and irritating, and it
gets
everywhere. Not like here.
Here
everythings soft... and
smooth...
He touches her arm. PADME has become receptive to the way he looks
at her but is nervous.
PADMÉ
There was
a very old man who lived
on the
island. He used to make
glass out
of sand - and vases and
necklaces
out of the glass. They
were
magical.
ANAKIN
(looks
into her eyes)
Everything
here is magical.
PADMÉ
You could
look into the glass and
see the
water. The way it ripples
and moves.
It looked so real...
but it
wasnt.
ANAKIN
Sometimes,
when you believe
something
to be real, it becomes
real. Real
enough, anyway...
They look into each other's eyes. He touches her chin.
PADMÉ
I used to
think if you looked too
deeply
into glass, you would
lose
yourself.
ANAKIN
I think
it's true...
ANAKIN kisses PADME. She doesn't resist. She comes to her senses
and pulls away.
PADMÉ
I
shouldn't have done that.
ANAKIN
I'm sorry.
When I'm around you,
my mind is
no longer my own.
PADMÉ
It's the
situation... the stress...
He looks at her.
ANAKIN
...the
view.
EXT. CORUSCANT, LANDING PLATFORM - LATE AFTERNOON
Obi-Wan's Starfighter is ready for takeoff. OBI-WAN and MACE
WINDU stand beside it.
MACE
WINDU
Be wary,
this disturbance in the
Force is
growing stronger.
OBI-WAN
I am
concerned for my Padawan. He
is not
ready to be on his own.
YODA
The
Council is confident in this decision,
Obi-Wan.
MACE
He has
exceptional skills. The
Council is
confident in its
decision,
Obi-Wan. If the
prophecy
is true, he weill be the
one to
bring balance to the Force.
OBI-WAN
But he
still has much to learn.
And his
abilities have made him...
well...
arrogant. I realise now
what you
and Master Yoda knew from
the
beginning... the boy was too
old to start
the training and...
OBI-WAN hesitates.
MACE
WINDU
There's
something else?
OBI-WAN
Master, he
should not have been
given this
assignment. I'm afraid
Anakin
won't be able to protect
the
Senator.
MACE
WINDU
Why?
OBI-WAN
He has
a... an emotional
connection
with her. It's been
there
since he was boy. Now
he's
confused... distracted.
MACE-WINDU
Obi-Wan,
you must have faith that
he will
take the right path.
OBI-WAN climbs into the cockpit of the Starfighter.
OBI-WAN
Has Master
Yoda gained any insight
into
whether or not this war will
come
about?
MACE
WINDU
Probing
the Dark Side is a
dangerous
process. He could be in
seclusion
for days... May the
force be
with you.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, YODA'S QUARTERS - LATE AFTERNOON
YODA sits with his eyes closed, meditating. Silence.
EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, LOUNGE, LATE AFTERNOON
The setting sun touches the mountain peaks. The lake glows in the
rose-tinted light. Floatinf lamps glean softly like jewels at the lodge.
INT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, DINING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON
NANDI place dessert in front of PADME. TECKLA does the same for
ANAKIN. The dessert is some kind of fruit. PADME picks up her fork and goes to
spear a piece, but it moves! She frowns and tries again -the fruit moves. She
lokk up at ANAKIN. His eyes are on his plate.
PADME
You did
that?
ANAKIN looks up - wide-eyed innocence.
ANAKIN
What?
PADME scowls at him. PADME jabs at the fruit - ANAKIN subtly
moves his hand and it lifts up from the plate and hovers in front of her.
PADME
That! Now
stop it!
PADME laughs. ANAKIN laughs. She reaches out for the fruit - it
loops.
PADME
(continuing)
Anakin!!
ANAKIN moves his fingers. The fruit flies into his hand.
ANAKIN
I'm not
really supposed to do
that...
for fun, I mean. If
Master
Obi-Wan were here, he'd be
very
grumpy.
ANAKIN is pleased. He cuts the fruint into several pieces and
sends one back to PADME. She bites it out of the air and laughs.
INT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, LODGE, FIREPLACE ALCOVE - TWILIGHT
A fire blazes in the open hearth. PADME is sitting in front of
it, gazing at the flames.
She looks up as ANAKIN arrives. She makes room for him. Brief
pause.
ANAKIN
May I tell
you something?
PADME
I don't
know.
ANAKIN
Then how
can I tell you?
PADME
Maybe you
should use your Jedi
intuition.
ANAKIN
It doesn't
work around you. My
mind is
always a muddle... I can
only think
of you.
PADME
Anakin,
don't...
ANAKIN
From the
moment I met you, all
those
years ago, a day hasn't gone
by when I
haven't thought of you.
And now
that I'm close to you again,
I'm in
agony. The closer I get to
you, the
worse it gets. The
thought of
not being with you
mskes my stomach turn
over - my
mouth goes
dry. I feel dizzy. I
can't
breathe. I'm haunted by the
kiss you should
never have given
me. My
heart is beating, hoping
that kiss
will not become a scar.
You are in
my very soul,
tormenting
me. What can I do? I
will do
anything you ask...
Silence. The logs flame in the hearth.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
If you are
suffering as much as I
am, tell
me.
PADME
...I
can't. We can't. It's just
not
possible.
ANAKIN
Anything's
possible. Padme,
please
listen...
PADME
You
listen. We live in a real
world. Come
back to it. You're
studying
to become a Jedi Knight.
I'm a
Senator. If you follow your
thoughts
through to conclusion,
they will
take us to a place we
cannot
go... regardless of the way
we feel
about each other.
ANAKIN
Then you
do feel something!
There's an
extraordinary
connection
between us. You can't
deny that.
PADME
Annie, it
doesn't make any
difference.
Jedi aren't allowed
to marry.
You swore an oath,
remember?
You'd be expelled from
the Order.
I will not let you
give up
your responsibilities...
your
future, for me.
ANAKIN
I was
destined to be a Jedi. I
don't
think I could be anything
else. But
you are asking me to be
rational.
That is something I
know I
cannot do. I wish I could
wish my
feelings away... but I
can't.
PADME
I am not
going to give into this.
I'm not
going to throw my life
away. I
have more important things
to do than
fall in love.
There is silence as they stare at the fire. ANAKIN is thinking.
ANAKIN
It
wouldn't have to be that way...
we could
keep it a secret.
PADME
Then we'd
be living a lie - one we
couldn't
keep even if we wanted
to. Mt
sister saw it. So did my
mother. I
couldn't do that.
Could you,
Anakin? Could you live
like that?
Silence for a moment.
ANAKIN
...No,
you're right. It would
destroy
us.
EXT. SPACE
It's just like the star map hologram, plus the storm-shrouded planet
of Kamino, which is exactly where it ought to be. Obi-Wan's Starship flies OVER
CAMERA and heads down toward the planet.
EXT. TIPOCA CITY, KAMINO LANDING PLATFORM (RAINSTORM) - DAY
Heavy rans and hard-driving winds lash the platform as Obi-Wan's
Starship approaches. The huge, ultra-modern city of Tipoca rests on great
stilts that keep it above the pounding and ever-present waves that cover the
surface of this watery world.
The Starfighter lands. OBI-WAN gets out and makes his way through
the bowling wind toward a tower on the far side of the platform. A door slides
open. A shaft of brilliant light pierces the swirling rain. OBI-WAN passes
through it and goes inside.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CORRIDOR ENTRANCE
A Brilliant white light. OBI-WAN pushes the soaking hood from his
face.
TAUN
WE
Welcome to
Tipoca City, Master
Jedi.
OBI-WAN wipes the rain from his face and blinks in surprise at a
tall, pasty-white alien named TAUN WE. He has large, almond shaped eyes.
TAUN
WE
Everything
is ready. The Prime
Minister
expects you.
OBI-WAN
(warily)
I'm
expected?
TAUN
WE
Of course!
He is anxious to see
you. After
all these years, we
were
beginning to think you
weren't
coming. Now please, this
way!
OBI-WAN masks his surprise as they move away along the corridor.
Obi-Wan follows Taun We cautiously.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, PRIME MINISTER OFFICE - DAY
The door slides open. OBI-WAN and TAUN WE enter and cross to
where LAMA SU rises, smiling, from behind his desk, which, like all the
furniture on Kamino, seems made out of pure light.
TAUN
WE
May I
present Lama Su, Prime
Minister
of Kamino... and this is
Master
Jedi...
OBI-WAN
Obi-Wan
Kenobi.
LAMA
SU
Please...
LAMA SU indicates a chair. OBI-WAN sits. TAUN WE hovers. The room
is bathed in brilliant white light. The whole place is ultra high-tech.
LAMA
SU
I trust
you are going to enjoy
your stay.
We are most happy you
have
arrived at the best part of
the
season.
OBI-WAN
You make
me feel most welcome.
LAMA
SU
And now to
business. You will be
delighted
to hear we are on
schedule.
Two hundred thousand
units are
ready, with another
million
well on the way.
OBI-WAN
(improvising)
That is...
good news.
LAMA
SU
Please
tell your Master Sido-Dyas
that we
have every confidence his
order will
be met on time and in
full. He
is well, I hope?
OBI-WAN
I'm sorry
Master - ?
LAMA
SU
Jedi
Master Sifo-Dyas. He's still
a leading
member of the Jedi
Council,
is he not?
OBI-WAN
Oh, yes.
Sido-Dyas.
LAMA
SU
(rising)
You must
be anxious to inspect the
units for
yourself.
OBI-WAN
That's why
I'm here.
EXT. NABOO, MOUNTAIN MEADOW - LATER AFTERNOON
PADME and ANAKIN are in the middle of an idyllic hilly meadow,
its lush grasses sprinkled with flowers. At a distance, a herd of SHAAKS graze
contentedly.
Beyond is the shimmering expanse of the lake. Several other lakes
stretch to the horizon. The warm air is full of little floating puffballs. They
sit on the grass, in a playful, coy mood, talking. PADME is picking flowers.
PADMÉ
I don't
know...
ANAKIN
Sure you
do... you just don't want
to tell
me.
PADMÉ
Are you
going to use one of your
Jedi mind
tricks on me?
ANAKIN
They only
work on the weak-minded.
You are
anything but weak-minded.
PADMÉ
All
right... his name was Palo.
I was
twelve. We were both in the
Legislative
Youth Program. He was
a few
years older then I... very
cute... dark curly
hair... dreamy
eyes.
ANAKIN
All right,
I get the picture...
whatever
happened to him?
PADMÉ
I went on
to become a Queen. He
went on to
become an artist.
ANAKIN
Maybe he
was the smart one.
PADME
You really
don't like politicians,
do you?
ANAKIN
I like two
or three, but I'm not
really
sure about one of them.
(smiling)
I don't
think the system works.
PADME
How would
you have it work?
ANAKIN
We need a
system where the
politicians
sit down and discuss
the
problems, agree what's in the
best
interests of all the people,
and then
do it.
PADME
That is
exactly what we do. The
trouble is that people don't
wlways
agree. In fact, they
hardly
ever do.
ANAKIN
Then they
should be made to.
PADME
By whom?
Who's going to make them?
ANAKIN
I don't
know. Someone.
PADME
You?
ANAKIN
Of course not
me.
PADME
But
someone.
ANAKIN
Someone
wise.
PADME
That
sounds an awful lot like a
dictatorship
to me.
A mischievious little grin creeps across his face.
ANAKIN
Well, if
it works...
PADME stares at ANAKIN. He looks back at her, straight-faced, and
can't hold a smile.
PADMÉ
You're
making fun of me.
ANAKIN
(sarcastic)
On no, I'd
be much too frightened
to tease a
Senator.
PADMÉ
You're so
bad!
PADME picks up a piece of fruit and throws it at him. He catches
it. PADME throws two more pieces of fruit, and ANAKIN catches them.
ANAKIN
You're
always so serious. Always
carrying
the weight of the
universe
on your shoulders.
ANAKIN then starts to juggle the fruit. PADME laughs and throws
more fruit at him. He manages to juggle them too until there are too many, and
he loses control and ducks, letting food fall on his head. They both laugh.
ANAKIN stands in front of a SHAAK, yelling at it and waving his
arms. PADME starts laughing as ANAKIN runs in circles, chased by the SHAAK.
The SHAAK crosses in front of PADME. ANAKIN is riding it, facing
the SHAAK'S tail. The SHAAK bucks, and ANAKIN falls off. PADME laughs even
harder. ANAKIN lies still. PADME jumps uip and runs to where ANAKIN is face
down in the grass. She turns him over. He is pulling a stupid face at her. She
yelps in mock fury and takes a swing at him. He catches her arm. She struggles.
They roll over in the grass. Suddenly, they become aware of the contact between
them. They let go of each other quickly and sit up, looking away.
ANAKIN stands up and holds out his hand to her. She take it. He
pulls her up. And now they are easy together, not self-conscious any more.
PADME scrambles up onto the SHAAK behind ANAKIN. She puts her arms around his
waist and leans against his back. ABAJUB digs his heels in. The SHAAK starts
forward, and they ride away.
EXT. TIPOCA CITY, PARADE GROUND (RAINSTORM) - DAY
OBI-WAN, LAMA SU and TAUN WE come out onto a balcony. Below is a
huge parade ground. The rain and wind are brutal. THOUSANDS OF STORMTROOPERS,
faces covered by helmets, are marching and drilling in formations of several
hundred.
LAMA
SU
(beaming)
Magnificent,
aren't they?
OBI-WAN nods slowly.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, COMMINSSARY - DAY
LAMA SU conducts OBI-WAN through a large eating area. TAUN WE
follows as they walk by HUNDREDS OF CLONES who look exactly alike, all about
twenty years old, dressed in black. They are seated at tables, eating.
LAMA
SU
We
modified their genetic
structure
to make them less
independent
than the original
host. As a
result they are
totally
obedient, taking any order
without
question.
OBI-WAM
Who was the
original host?
LAMA
SU
A bounty
hunter called Jango Fett.
We felt a
Jedi would be the
perfect
choice, but Sido-Dyas hand-
picked
Jango Fett himself.
OBI-WAN
Where is
this bounty hunter now?
LAMA
SU
Oh, we
keep him here. After a few
hundred
thousand clones, the
genetic
pattern starts to fade, so
we take a
fresh supply. He lives
here, but
he's free to come and go
as he
pleases.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, BARRACKS - DAY
The tour continues through a long corridor folled with narrow,
transparent tubes into which CLONES are climbing. Once in the tube, the CLONE
goes to sleep.
LAMA
SU
Apart from
his pay, which is
considerable,
Fett demanded only
one thing
- an unaltered clone for
himself.
Curious isn't it?
OBI-WAN
Unaltered?
LAMA
SU
Pure
genetic replication. No
tampering
with the structure to
make it
more docile... and no
growth
acceleration...
OBI-WAN
I would
like to meet this Jango
Fett.
TAUN
WE
I would be
most happy to arrange
it, for
you.
TAUN WE bows, and leaves.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, CLASSROOM - DAY
The tour continues through a classroom filled with IDENTICAL
YOUNG BOY CLONES.
OBI-WAN
You mentioned
growth
acceleration...
LAMA
SU
Oh yes,
it's essential.
Otherwise,
a mature clone would
take a
lifetime to grow. Now, we
can do it
in half the time. Those
items you
saw on the parade ground
were
started ten years ago, when
Sido-dyas
first placed the order,
and
they're already mature...
OBI-WAN looks at the BOY CLONES.
OBI-WAN
And these?
LAMA
SU
About five
years ago.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, HATCHERY - DAY
They enter a space filled with great racks of glass spheres,
which are filled with fluid in which EMBRYOS are suspended.
LAMA
SU
They're
immensely superior to
droids,
capable of independent
thought
and action.
OBI-WAN
Very
impressive.
LAMA
SU
I'd hoped you
would be pleased.
OBI-WAN gazes at the nearest embryos.
OBI-WAN
(carefully)
Tell me,
prime minister, when my
Master
Sido-dyas first contacted
you, did
he say the order was
for...
himself... or?
LAMA SU
Himself?
Of course not. This
army is
for the Republic?
OBI-WAN
(astonished)
The
Repubic?
LAMA
SU
We are
also very much agasint this
Count
Dooku and his seccessionist
movement.
We are proud to be of
help to
the Republic.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, APARTMENT - LATE DAY
TAUN WE shows OBI-WAN into his room.
TAUN
WE
I have
arranged for you to meet
Jango Fett
in the morning. Sleep
well.
TAUN WE goes. The door slides closed behind him. OBI-WAN looks
around, then moves swiftly to check the room over. Finally, satisfied, he takes
out his comlink.
OBI-WAN
Arfour,
Arfour...
EXT. TIPOCA CITY LANDING PLATFORM, JEDI FIGHTER, (RAINSTORM) -
LATE DAY
The R4 D17, Obi-Wan's Astro-Droid, who is sitting on top of
Obi-Wan's Starfighter, switches on and BEEPS.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, APARTMENT - LATE DAY
OBI-WAN hears ARFOUR BEEP through his comlink.
OBI-WAN
Arfour,
relay this, "scramble code
five,"
to Courscant: care of "the
old folks
home."
EXT. TIPOCA CITY LANDING PLATFORM, JEDI FIGHTER, (RAINSTORM) -
LATE DAY
ARFOUR BEEPS and WHISTLES. The panels light up inside the
cockpit, as the message is transmitted.
EXT. JEDI TEMPLE, LIVINF QUARTERS - EARLY EVENING
YODA and MACE WINDU listen as a hologram of OBI-WAN stands between
them broadcasting the massage. The singnal is very weak, the image fades in and
out.
OBI-WAN
(V.O.)
...I've
never heard of a Jedi
called
Sido-Dyas, have you, Master?
MACE
WINDU
No.
Whoever placed that order was
not a
Jedi, I can assure you.
OBI-WAN
(V.O.)
I have a
strong feeling that this
bounty
hunter is the assassin
we're
looking for.
YODA
Who he is
working for... discover
that, you
must.
OBI-WAN
(V.O.)
I will,
Master, and I will also
find out
more about this clone
army...
May The Force...
The hologram switches off, and OBI-WAN fades away.
WINDU
A clone
army! Ordered by someone
in the
Senate perhaps... Someone's
out to
start a war.
YODA
Inform the
chancellor of this, we
must.
WINDU
Who do you
think this impostor
Sido-Dyas,
could be?
YODA stares back at MACE WINDU, then slowly shakes his head.
EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT - NIGHT
The silent lodge. The triple moons of Naboo reflected in the
tranquil waters of the lake.
INT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, ANAKIN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
ANAKIN moves restlessly in his sleep. He mutters to himself.
Sweat
forms on his forehead. He turns violently. He cries out.
ANAKIN
No...No...No...Mom!...Don't,
no, don't!
EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, LODGE, BALCONY OVERLOOKING GARDENS -
MORNING
ANAKIN is on the balcony overlooking the gardens. After a moment,
PAMDE comes onto the balcony behind him. She sees he is meditating and turns to
go.
ANAKIN
(eyes
closed)
Don't go.
PAMDE
I don't
want to disturb you.
ANAKIN
Your
presence is soothing.
Brief pause.
PADME
You had a
nightmare again last
night.
ANAKIN
Jedi don't
have nightmares.
PADME
I heard
you.
ANAKIN'S opens his eyes and looks at her.
ANAKIN
I saw my
mother. I saw her as
clearly as
I see you now. She's
suffering,
Padme. She is in
pain...They're
killing her!
(getting
up)
I know I'm
disobeying my mandate
to protect
you, Senator. I know I
will be
punished and possibly
thrown out
of the Jedi Order, but
I must go.
I have to help her!
I'm sorry,
Padme. I don't have a
choice.
PADME
Annie, I
told you I wouldn't let
you give
up your future for me.
I'll go
with you. That way you
can
continue to protect me, and
you won't
be disobeying your
mandate.
ANAKIN
What about
Master Obi-wan?
PADME smiles and takes his hand.
PADME
I guess we
won't tell him, will we?
EXT. NABOO LAKE, FLOATING LANDING PLATFORM - DAY
ANAKIN and PADME step onto the landing platform from the water
speeder. They enter the Naboo Starship. ARTOO BEEPS, and follows them on board.
The ramp retracts.
PADDY ACCU drives the water speeder away from the platform as
Anakin's Starship takes off.
EXT. TIPOCA CITY (RAINSTORM) - DAY
Rain lashes the city. Below, mightly waves pound the stilts,
breaking almost to the height of the platforms.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CORRIDOR - DAY
TAUN WE conducts OBI-WAN to the door of Jango Fett's apartment.
TAUN WE waves his hand, and a muted bell RINGS.
As they wait, OBI-WAN notes the door lock entry mechanism. Then
the door opens, and a ten-year-old boy, BOBA FETT, looks at them. He is identical
to the boys in the classroom.
TAUN
WE
Boba, is
your father here?
There is a brief pause, then BOBA FETT nods.
TAUN
WE
(continuing)
May we see
him?
BOBA
FETT
Sure.
Another brief pause, then BOBA FETT steps aside, and TAUN WE and
OBI-WAN go through.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, FETT APARTMENT - DAY
OBI-WAN, TAUN WE, and BOBA FETT enter the apartment. OBI-WAN
looks around the room.
BOBA
FETT
Dad! Taun
We's here!
JANGO FETT comes in from the bedroom. He wears a jumpsuit. He is
unshaven and mean looking, his face pitted with scars of old wounds. There are
a couple of weird tattoos on his muscular forearms. He eyes OBI-WAN with
suspicion.
TAUN
WE
Welcome
back, Jango. Was your
trip
productive?
JANGO
FETT
Fairly.
OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT size each other up. BOBA FETT studies both
of them.
TAUN
WE
This is
Jedi Master, Obi-Wan
Kenobi.
He's come to check on our
progress.
JANGO
FETT
That
right?
JANGO FETT'S eyes fix OBI-WAN coldly.
OBI-WAN
Your
clones are very impressive.
You must
be very proud.
JANGO
FETT
I'm just a
simple man, trying to
make my
way in the universe,
Master
Jedi.
OBI-WAN
Aren't we
all?
OBI-WAN eyes the half-open bedroom door, through which a couple of
pieces of body armour can be seen on the floor. JANGO FETT registers OBI-WAN'S
look. He moves in front of him, blocking the view.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
Ever made
your way as far into the
interior
as Coruscant?
JANGO
Once or
twice.
OBI-WAN
Recently?
JANGO
(eyes
Obi-Wan carefully)
Possibly...
OBI-WAN
Then you
must know Master Sido-
Dyas?
JANGO
Boba,
close the door.
BOBA FETT moves to close the bedroom door. JANGO FETT smiles
thinly at OBI-WAN.
JANGO
(continuing)
Master
who?
OBI-WAN
Sido-Dyas.
Isnt he the Jedi who
hired you
for this job?
JANGO
Never
heard of him. I was
recuited
by a man called Darth
Tyranus on
one of the moons of
Bogden.
OBI-WAN
No? I
thought...
TAUN
WE
Sido-Dyas
told us to expect him.
And he
showed up just when your
Jedi
Master said he would. We
have kept
the Jedis involvement
a secret
until your arrival, just
as your
Master requested.
OBI-WAN
Curious...
JANGO
Do you
like your army?
OBI-WAN
It seems
to me it's your army -
being that
they are all clones of
you.
JANGO
(grinning)
They'll do
their job well, I'll
guarantee
that.
OBI-WAN
I look forward
to seeing them in
action.
Thank you for your time,
Jango.
JANGO
Always a
pleasure to meet a Jedi.
OBI-WAN and TAUN WE go out. The door slides closed. JANGO FETT
turns to his son. He is deep in thought.
BOBA
What is
it, Dad?
EXT. SPACE
The Naboo Starship heads toward the desert planet of Tatooine.
EXT. TATOOINE, MOS ESPA STREETS AND WATTO'S SHIP - DAY
The Naboo Starship lands in a large parking lot of Spaceships on
the outskirts of Mos Espa. ANAKIN and PADME ride a rickshaw through the
streets. ANAKIN stares at sights he hasn't seen for years. Finally, they
come to Wattos' shop, and the rickshaw
stops.
ANAKIN
(to
the droid driver)
Wait,
please.
ANAKIN and PADME get down. Sitting on a stool in front of the shop
is WATTO. He is using a small electronic screwdriver on a fiddly DROID. THREE
PIT DROIDS are chattering away and are trying to help him, but they seem only
to make him madder.
WATTO
(yelling,
in Huttese)
No, not
that one - that one!
ANAKIN
(arriving)
Excuse me,
Watto.
WATTO
(in
Huttese)
What?
ANAKIN
(in
Huttese)
I said
excuse me.
WATTO turns to the chattering PIT DROIDS.
WATTO
(in
Huttese)
Shut down.
The PIT DROIDS snap into their storage position.
WATTO
(continuing,
in Huttese)
What? I
don't know you... What can
I do for
you? You look like a
Jedi.
Whatever it is... I didn't
do it.
WATTO drops the screwdriver and curses loudly in Huttese
ANAKIN
Let me
help you with that.
ANAKIN takes the fiddly piece of equipment and starts to play
with it. WATTO blinks in surprise.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
I'm
looking for Shmi Skywalker.
WATTO looks at him suspiciously. He stares at PADME, then back to
ANAKIN.
WATTO
Annie??
Little Annie?? Naaaah!!
Suddenly, the fiddly piece of equipment in Anakin's hands WHIRS
into life. WATTO blinks at it.
WATTO
(continuing;
in English)
You are
Annie! It is you! You
little womp
rat.
WATTO gives ANAKIN a big hug.
WATTO
(continuing)
You sure
sprouted Weehoo! A
Jedi!
Waddya know? Hey, maybe
you
couldda help wit some
daedbeats
who owe...
ANAKIN
My
mother...
WATTO
Oh, yeah.
Shmi... she's not mine
no more. I
sold her.
ANAKIN
Sold
her...
WATTO
Years ago.
Sorry, Anne, but you
know,
business is business.
Sold her
to a moisture farmer
named
Lars. Least I think it was
Lars.
Believe it or not, I heard
he freed
her and married her. Can
ya beat
that?
ANAKIN
Do you
know where they are?
WATTO
Long way
from here... someplace
over on
the other side of Mos
Eisley, I
think...
ANAKIN
I'd like
to know.
ANAKIN'S grim look means business; WATTO gets the hint quickly.
WATTO
Yeah...
sure... absolutely. Let's
go look in
my records.
ANAKIN and WATTO go into the shop.
EXT. TIPOCA CITY (RAINSTORM) - DAY
The waves crash against the water city as the storm continues.
Light suddenlyt streams from the base of a landing platform as a door slides
open.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CORRIDOR - DAY
OBI-WAN stands with LAMA SU and TAUN WE just inside the open
door.
LAMA
SU
Tell your
Council the first
battalions
are ready. And remind
them that
if they need more
troops, we
will need time to grow
them.
OBI-WAN
I won't
forget.
EXT. TIPOCA CITY, KAMINO LANDING PLATFORM (RAINSTORM) - DAY
OBI-WAN comes out from the tower into the driving ran. The door
closes behind him. He pulls his robe around him and stands braced against the
gale.
Below, a huge wave crashes against the stilts. Spray flies high
and whips across the platform where OBI-WAN is standing. He walks over to his
Starfighter, looks to see if anyone is watching, then turns and goes back to
the door. It slides open.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, CORRIDOR - DAY
OBI-WAN enters cautiously from outside. Ahead, the corridor is
deserted. He moves down it.
INT. TIPOCA CITY, FETT APARTMENT - DAY
OBI-WAN walks in to find the room in complete disorder. The
bedroom door is wide open - clear signs of hurried departure. All of the Fetts'
personal belongings are gone.
OBI-WAN goes to an ultra-thin computer screen. He punches up AN
ONSCREEN PICTURE of JANGO FETT and BOBA FETT unhitching the lines securing
their ship to the landing platform. JANGO FETT is wearing his armour and rocket
pack. BOBA FETT climbs aboard the small Fighter.
EXT. TIPOCA CITY, KAMINO LANDING PLATFORM (RAINSTORM) - DAY
JANGO FETT picks up a case and swings it up to BOBA FETT, who
stows it inside the ship. JANGO FETT picks up another case and is about to
swing it, when:
BOBA
FETT
Dad!!
JANGO FETT turns to see OBI-WAN charging out of the tower toward
him. As he runs, OBI-WAN draws his lightsaber from his belt. It flashes on.
JANGO FETT draws his gun and fires at the charging JEDI. OBI-WAN
deflects the blast and swings at JANGO FETT.
The bounty hunter rockets up and over OBI-WAN, landing behind him.
He fires a thin wire from his wrist pack, trying to entangle the Jedi.
JANGO FETT fire several Kamino Kyber Darts from his elbow
launcher. OBI-WAN deflects them back at JANGO FETT, but they strike harmlessly
against the bounty hunter's armour.
IN THE COCKPIT of Jango Fett's ship, BOBA FETT grabs the controls
of a laser gun and swings it to aim at OBI-WAN.
OUTSIDE, in the driving rain, OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT circle each
other, sizing each other up - feinting.
IN THE COCKPIT, each time BOBA FETT is ready to fire, JANGO FETT
blocks his view of OBI-WAN.
OUTSIDE, OBI-WAN makes a sudden attack, swinging at JANGO FETT,
who deflects the blows. One slices off a piece of the bounty hunter's shoulder
plate. JANGO FETT rockets into the air and hovers above OBI-WAN. The Jedi spins
as:
IN THE COCKPIT, BOBA FETT fires.
OUTSIDE, the laser shell streaks past OBI-WAN to strike the edge
of the tower. JANGO FETT fires down at OBI-WAN. The Jedi deflects the shots
back, but JANGO FETT evades them. Then he swoops down, swinging around OBI-WAN.
As he shoots past, he kicks the lightsaber out of the Jedi's hand.
The lightsaber skids across the wet surface of the landing
platform. OBI-WAN dives after it. JANGO FETT zooms in front of him and grabs
the lightsaber. OBI-WAN punches it out of his hand.
IN THE COCKPIT, BOBA FETT watches as:
OUTSIDE, OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT grapple and fight, punching,
kicking, grabbing hold, and throwing each other around. OBI-WAN grabs JANGO
FETT tightly, and JANGO FETT rockets up into the air and kicks OBI-WAN loose.
OBI-WAN crashes to the deck and slides toward the edge. He grapples desperately
for a handhold on the slick surface.
JANGO FETT rockets down to kick at him. OBI-WAN hauls himself up.
JANGO FETT zooms to the far side of the platform.
OBI-WAN uses Jedi powers to pull part of the structure loose. It
hits JANGO FETT, who loses his balance, teetering on the edge. OBI-WAN charges
acress, dives, and grabs hold of JANGO FETT just as he falls over the edge.
Locked together, OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT plummet down toward the
raging ocean. At the last moment, JANGO FETT fires a cable out of his backpack
that shoots upward and locks onto a metal strut on the underside of the
platform. OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT swing and CRASH onto one of the stilts.
OBI-WAN is knocked clear and drops onto a SMALL SERVICE PLATFORM
just above the waves. He hauls himself to his feet. JANGO FETT hovers in
mid-air opposite him, as a HUGE WAVE crashes over OBI-WAN. When it subsides,
the Jedi has disappeared.
JANGO FETT rockets up to the landing platform, where he drops
down beside his ship. He clambers inside the cockpit and settles into the
pilot's seat. He punches buttons. The engines ROAR.
OUTSIDE, Jango Fett's ship lifts off from the platform and heads
up into the lowering sky. It disappears. Lightning flashes. Rain lashes the
tower and streams across the surface of the platform, to where:
A HAND suddenlt clutches at the very edge of the platform. A
moment later, ANOTHER HAND grabs hold.
EXT. TATOOINE, BLUFF OVERLOOKING HOMESTEAD - LATE DAY
The Naboo Starship descends, hovers, and land on a bluff. ANAKIN
and PADME get out. They look down from the edge of the bluff to where the
homestead is seen on the desert floor below.
PADME
Stay with
the ship, Artoo.
ARTOO WHISTLES as ANAKIN and PADME start down the trail toward
the homestead.
EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, HOMESTEAD MOISTURE FARM - LATE DAY
C-3PO is working outside the homestead. He still lacks an outer
covering; his inner parts and wiring show. He looks up as ANAKIN and PADME
arrive,
C-3PO
Good
evening. May I help you?
ANAKIN
Threepio?
C-3PO
Oh, my...
oh, my! Master
Anakin! My
goodness, I can hardly
believe
it! And this must be Miss
Padme.
PADME
Hello,
Threepio.
ANAKIN
I've come
to see my mother.
C-3PO
Oh, dear!
I'm so terribly sorry,
Master
Annie.
PADME
Threepio,
what's happened?
C-3PO
I think
we'd better go inside.
EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, COURTYARD - LATE DAY
ANAKIN, PADME and THREEPIO arrive in the courtyard. THREEPIO
shuffles ahead.
C-3PO
Master
Lars - Master Owen!
Somebody
to see you!
OWEN LARS and BERU WHITESUN come out into the courtyard.
ANAKIN
I'm Anakin
Skywalker. I'm here
looking
for my mother.
OWEN
Owen
Lars... I guess I'm your
step-brother.
(they
shake hands)
This is my
girlfriend, Beru.
BERU
Hello.
PADME
I'm Padme.
OWEN
I had a
feeling you might show up
some day.
ANAKIN
Is my
mother here?
CLIEGG
No, she's
not.
CLIEGG LARS swings from the house on a small floating chair. One
of his legs is heavily bandaged; the other is missing. He balances awkwardly
and puts out a hand.
CLIEGG
(continuing)
Cliegg
Lars. Shmi is my wife...
Come on
inside. We have a lot to
talk
about.
INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, KITCHEN - LATE DAY
BERU puts several steaming cups of ardees on a tray and exits the
kitchen...
CLIEGG
(O.S.)
It was
just before dawn. They
came out
of nowhere. A hunting
party of
Tusekn Raiders.
INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, DINING AREA - LATE DAY
CLIEGG, OWEN, PADME and ANAKIN sit around the table, BERU brings
the drinks from the kitchen.
CLIEGG
Your
mother had gone out early,
like she
always did, to pick
mushrooms
that grow on the
vaporatos.
From the tracks, she
was about
halfway when they
took her.
Those Tuskens walk like
men, but
they're vicious, mindless
monsters.
Thirty of us went out
after her.
Four of us came back.
Three more
are still out there
looking.
I'd be with them,
only... I
just couldn't ride any
more...
until I heal.
CLIEGG grimaces, easing his throbbing leg.
CLIEGG
(continuing)
This isn't
the way I wanted to
meet you,
son. This isn't how
your mother
and I planned it. I
don't want
to give up on her, but
she's been
gone a month. There's
little
hope she's lasted this long.
Silence. Then ANAKIN stands up.
OWEN
Where are
you going?
ANAKIN
To find my
mother.
PADME
No, Annie!
CLIEGG
She's
daed, son. Accept it.
ANAKIN
I can feel
her pain, and I will
find her.
I know she's alive.
ANAKIN turns abruptly.
EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, MOISTURE FARM - LATE DAY
ANAKIN stands looking across the desert. PADME comes running out
of the homestead after him, followed by OWEN. ANAKIN turns to PADME.
ANAKIN
You are
going to have to stay
here.
These are good people,
Padme.
You'll be safe.
OWEN
Take my
speeder bike.
PADME
Anakin...
PADME hugs him. ANAKIN walks over to Owen's speeder bike, which
is standing close by.
ANAKIN
I trust
you'll watch over her,
Owen.
OWEN
Don't
worry.
ANAKIN swings onto the bike. The engine fires.
ANAKIN
I won't be
long.
ANAKIN takes off across the desert. PADME watches him go.
EXT. SPACE, GEONOSIS
The red planet of Geonosis is circled by a large asteroid field
that form rings. Jango Fett's ship appears, heading toward it.
INT. COCKPIT, FETT SHIP, SPACE, GEONOSIS
JANGO FETT grins at BOBA FETT.
JANGO
FETT
Nearly
there, son.
JANGO FETT guides he ship around the asteroids. Suddenly:
BOBA
FETT
Dad,
look!!
On the view screen, Obi-Wan's ship appears, chasing after them.
JANGO FETT grabs the controls. They are thrown around as the ship plummets to
try to lose OBI-WAN.
JANGO
FETT
Hang on!
The ship goes into a power-climb. A GREAT SPACE DDOGFIGHT ensues
between OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT.
EXT. SPACE, GEONOSIS
The ships flip, roll, and turn at incredible speed, didging,
weaving and firing. They tumble from near misses. Hits fly off Obi-Wan's
fighter as one of Jango's missiles gets through.
Finally, it seems as if OBI-WAN is getting the upper hand. JANGO
FETT breaks off the fight and dives sharply. He maneuvers deftly between two
huge asteroids.
In JANGO FETT'S COCKPIT, BOBA FETT flinches as asteroids pass
very close by.
BOBA
FETT
Dad! Watch
out!
JANGO
FETT
Stay calm,
son. We'll be fine.
That Jedi
won't be able to follow
us through
this.
But Obi-Wan ship dives into the asteroid belt after them.
IN OBI-WAN'S COCKPIT, his skill is pushed to the limit as he
throws the ship from side to side, avoiding great rocks. Then a huge asteroid
tumbles across his path. There seem no way he can avoid it. OBI-WAN fires a
couple of aerial torpedoes. They streak toward the asteroid.
IN JANGO'S COCKPIT, they see the huge explosion as Obi-Wan's ship
appears to smash into the asteroid.
BOBA
FETT
Got him!
Yeahhhhh!
JANGO
FETT
We won't
see him again.
BOBA FETT laughs. Jango Fett's ship emerges from the asteroid
belt and heads down toward the planet of Geonosis.
EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, JAWA CAMP - SUNSET
ANAKIN stands in the middle of a crowd of JAWAS. He asks them
from directions. The JAWAS confer exicitedly, then the CHIEF JAWA points in a
particular direction. ANAKIN gets on the bike and speeds off to where the JAWA
pointed.
EXT. TATOOINE, DUNE SEA, CAMPFIRE - TWILIGHT
ANAKIN rides over a large dune toward a small flickering light in
the distance.
He rides up and stops the bike in front of a campfire. There are
bodies of THREE DEAD FARMERS lying beside the campfire. TWO EOPIES are
thethered nearby, along with a burned and smoking speeder.
EXT. TATOOINE, LANDSCAPE (FULL MOON) - NIGHT
THREE DIFFERENT SHOTS. ANAKIN rids the speeder bike through three
exotic landscapes. In one shot, he stops and looks down at some tracks. Then he
starts up his speeder and rides off.
EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, HOMESTEAD (FULL MOON) - NIGHT
The lights of the vaporators blink in the night sky. Somewhere
close by, a night animal HOWLS.
EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, COURTYARD (FULL MOON) - NIGHT
PADME is pacing the courtyard restlessly. She stops, listening to
the animal HOWLING nearby. She shivers slightly, then turns and goes into the
garage at the side of the courtyard.
INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD - GARAGE (FULL MOON) - NIGHT
PADME stands looking at a speeder parked in the garage. Short
silence. Then:
C-3PO
Please
don't leave us, Miss Padme.
These
people need your help.
THREEPIO is parked in a corner.
PADME
I'm not
leaving, Threepio. I just
can't
sleep.
C-3PO
That's
something I cannot relate
to. As a
Protocol Droid, I'm
either
active or inactive.
There's no
in-between.
PADME
I guess
you're lucky.
C-3PO
Do you
really think so..? I
suppose I
shouldn't expect...
PADME
You're not
happy here?
C-3PO
Oh, I'm
not unhappy... and my
masters
here ar so kind I
wouldn't
wish to trouuble them,
it's
just... being like this...
well, it's
embarrassing.
PADME
Being like
what?
C-3PO
Naked. If
you pardon the
expression.
You see, when Master
Annie made
me, he never quite
found the
time to give me any
outer
covering. It's so
humiliating.
How would you like it
if you had
to go around with all
your
circuits showing?
PADME
I guess I
wouldn't like it at all.
C-3PO
Of course you
wouldn't. Nobody
would.
It's simply not protocol.
PADME looks thoughtfully at a pile of spare parts and bits of
metal and tools.
PADME
Maybe we
can do something about it.
C-3PO
I don't
think so. Only Master
Annie...
PADME
Why not? They seem to have a box
of old
coverings here.
C-3PO
Oh? How
observant of you, Miss
Padme. Of
course, I'm just not
mechanically
minded... if you see
what I
mean.
PADME picks up a piece of metal and holds it against him.
PADME
Let's see,
if we put this...
here...
C-3PO
Ooooh!
That's tickles.
PADME
You'll
have to be quiet, Threepio.
Hold
still, please.
EXT. SPACE, GEONOSIS RINGS
A huge chunk of rock tumbles slowly through the asteroid bely.
CAMERA CLOSES, to discover Obi-Wan's Starship hidden in a blasted-out area on
the pitted back side of the great rock.
INT. COCKPIT, JEDI FIGHTER, SPACE, GEONOSIS RINGS
OBI-WAN looks out toward Geonosis and sees in the distance a
large fleet of Trade Federation Ships hidden among the asteroids. He starts the
engines of his fighter.
Obi-Wan's Fighter moves out from the back side of the asteroid
and heads away from the asteroid field, descending toward Geonosis.
EXT. GEONOSIS, LANDING AREA - NIGHT
Obi-Wan's ship skims across the top of a small mesa along the
edge of a rocky ridge. He maneuvers under a rock overhang and lands. He gets
out of the Fighter and walks onto the mesa. The wind whips at him. He looks
around.
Geonosis is a red rock planet, featureless apart from buttes and
mesas, and occasional tall stalagmites that stand out dramatically on the arid
plains.
The night is quiet, except for an occasional WEIRD CRY. OBI-WAN
checks his bearings, then heads away.
EXT. GEONOSIS, ROCK FACE TRAIL - NIGHT
OBI-WAN climbs a steep, narrow trail. Suddenly, a CRY is heard
close by. OBI-WAN stumbles slightly. His foot slips on the edge, sending a
stream of peblles skittering into the darkness.
OBI-WAN listens. Silence. He draws his lightsaber but does not
ignite it.
He sets off again and works his way around a narrow corner, to
confront a crouching MASSIFF (a dog-sized lizard) with slavering fangs! The
beast leaps at him, and OBI-WAN ignites his lightsaber as the MASSIFF knocks
him on his back. Its jaws open wide. OBI-WAN stabs the creature, throws it off
of him, and jumps up.
A SECOND MASSIFF jumps from behind. OBI-WAN swings around and
cuts it in half. The MASSIFF flies over the cliff, HOWLING. It plummets to its
death hundreds of feet below.
EXT. TATOOINE, CLIFF (FULL MOON) - NIGHT
ANAKIN pulls up near the edge of a cliff. He gets off the bike
and creeps to the edge. He looks over to see a Tusken camp in the oasis below.
One of the huts at the edge of the camp has TWO TUSKEN GUARDS outside it.
EXT. TATOOINE, TUSKEN RAIDER CAMP, OASIS (FULL MOON) - NIGHT
ANAKIN creeps through the camp, working his way from hut to hut,
flattening himself against the wall,s overhearing snatches of Tusken
conversation from inside, using the shadows to him him until he arrives at the
hut with the TWO GUARDS. They are sitting a short distance from the door.
ANAKIN wriggles around the black. He takes out his lightsaber and cuts into the
base of the wall.
INT. TUSKEN RAIDER HUTT - NIGHT
The lightsaber completes the hole in the wall. ANAKIN wriggles
in. He pulls himself to his feet. There are candles everywhere.
A shaft of moonlight from a hole in the roof pierces the gloom of
the hut. By its light, ANAKIN sees SHMI, hanging from a wooden frame in the
middle of the hut.
He cuts her free, takes her into his arms, and lowers her gently
to the ground. Her eyes are closed. Her face is bloodied. She has been
terribly beaten. Anakin cradles her tenderly.
ANAKIN
Mom...
Mom... Mom...
SHMI'S eyelids flutter - and barely open. They are caked with
blood.
SHMI
Annie...?
Is it you?
SHMI'S eyes focus slowly. ANAKIN gives a little choking gasp.
ANAKIN
Im here,
Mom. Youre safe. Hang
on. Im
going to get you out of
here...
SHMI
Im so
glad... to see you,
Annie...
Now... I am complete...
ANAKIN
Just stay
with me, Mom. Im going
to make
you well again.
Everythings
going to be fine.
SHMI
You look
so handsome. My son...
my
grown-up son. Im so proud of
you,
Annie... so proud... I missed
you so
much... I love...
SHMI dies. ANAKIN draws her to his breast. There is silence for a
moment. ANAKIN lifts his head, listening for a moment, then he sits on the
floor of the Tusken hut, cradling his dead mother in his arms.
EXT. GEONOSIS, ROCK FACE TRAIL - NIGHT
OBI-WAN arrives at the head of the trail. Far below, a flat plain
stretches into the distance. He stop, peering into the darkness, where strange
shapes loom indistinctly.
OBI-WAN takes a pair of electronic binoculars from his belt and
puts them to his eyes. He sees a cluster of great towers like fantastic
stalagmites rise from the plain below.
SLOW PAN with the binoculars, and suddenly a line of Battle
Starships come into view. OBI-WAN touches the viewfinder. Between fifty and a
hundred Federation Starships in near rows. Some are on platforms that are
carrying the Starships diwn to an underground facility. Other platforms are
rising to the surface. They carry THOUSANDS of BATTLE DROIDS that step off and
file into the waiting ships. A fully loaded Starship takes off. OBI-WAN swings
the binoculars upward, to see more Federation Starships.
EXT. TATOOINE, TUSKEN RAIDER CAMP, OASIS - DAWN
The pale light grows. Thin tendrils of smoke rise slowly in the
cold, clear air. Somewhere an dog BARKS. An OLD WOMAN comes out of one of the
huts. She carries a pail. She swirls it and tosses the dirty water onto the
ground.
As she goes back inside the hut, a TUSKEN CHILD runs past,
dragging a stick in the sand. The CHILD runs through the line of huts, turns a
corner, and stops suddenly, staring at the bodies of the TWO TUSKEN GUARDS.
Between them, ANAKIN stands outside the hut door. His face is a grim mask. The
CHILD stares, then there is a FLASH OF LIGHT as Anakins lightsaber switches
on.
EXT. GEONOSIS, LANDING AREA - NIGHT
OBI-WAN comes running back to his ship and climbs into the
cockpit. He settles into his seat. His ARFOUR DROID beeps a happy greeting.
OBI-WAN switches on his comlink.
OBI-WAN
"Guiding
light" to "old folks
home."
EXT. CORUSCANT, REPUBLIC EXECUTIVE BUILDING - DAY
LOW ANGLE. A line of reflecting pools with splashing fountains
flanked by statues on each side leads to the main entrance to the awesome
building.
INT. CORUSCANT, CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE
A hologram of OBI-WAN flickers in front of a group, made up of
Jedi (YODA, MACE WINDU, and KI-ADI-MUNDI) and Senators (BAIL ORGANA, ASK AAK,
LUMINARA, and JAR JAR). PALPATINE and MAS AMEDDA are in the middle of the
group, watching with growing concern.
OBI-WAN
...Starships
from the Trade
Federation
and the Commerce Guilds
are taking
deliveries of battle
droids
from the foundries on
Geonosis.
BAIL
ORGANA
That's
outrageous! The treaty
forbids the
Trade Federation from
building
up an army. What are
they
doing?!
OBI-WAN
The droid
foundry seems to be
working at
full capacity. I am
going to
go down and investigate.
I will
bring Jango Fett back home
for
interrogation.
PALPATINE
Those
Geonosian foundries are part
of the
Techno Union. We will call
in their
representatives and ask
them a few
very pointed questions.
OBI-WAN
One more
thing. Jango mentioned
he was
recruited by someone named
Darth Tyranus.
Any idea who that
might be?
YODA
With the
forename Darth, a Sith he
must be.
MACE
WINDU
Our
missing apprentice. They are
playing
their hand at last.
OBI-WAN
Do you
believe he could be the
mysterious
Sido-Dyas, who made the
deal for
the clone army?
YODA
Perhaps
too many pieces are missing
from this
puzzle, there are.
MACE
WINDU
Be
careful, Obi-Wan. This
investigation
is becoming less
than
routine. Do you need help?
OBI-WAN
Let me see
if I can figure out
what's
going on first.
The hologram of OBI-WAN fades off. PALPATINE stares at the spot
where the hologram was in disbelief.
BAIL
ORGANA
The
Commerce Guilds are preparing
for war...
there can be no doubt
of that.
PALPATINE
Count
Dooku must have made a
treaty
with them.
MACE
WINDU
We must
stop them soon before
they're
fully ready.
SENATOR
ASK AAK
The debate
is over, we need
that clone
army now!
BAIL
ORGANA
Unfortunately,
the debate is not
over. The
Senate will never be
able to
approve the use of that
army
before the separatists
attack.
Mas Amedda, who had been silent up until now suddenly speaks up.
MAS
AMEDDA
This is a
crisis! If the Senate
votes the
Chancellor emergency
powers, he
could approve the use
of the
army in a minute.
PALPATINE
Please,
please, I don't wish to
have
emergency powers. That's too
extreme a
solution. It's akin to
a dictatorship.
We must rely on
the Jedi.
Master Yoda, how many
are
available to go to Geonosis?
MACE WINDU and YODA look at one another.
YODA
Two
Hundred,... less or more.
BAIL
ORGANA
With all
due respect for the Jedi
Order, two
hundred will be no
match for
hundreds of thousands of
battle
droids.
MACE
WINDU
Patience.
We should wait for Obi-
Wan to
report back. We don't know
that Count
Dooku has made a treaty
with the
Corporate Alliance, it's
speculation.
SENATOR ASK AAK
But we
must prepare for the worst.
I'm going
to propose a motion
granting
emergency powers to the
Chancellor
at the next session. We
must not
wait!
PALPATINE
Out of the
question, Senator! You
and I are too
closely aligned.
The issue
will become partisan and
debates
will begin. The proposal
must come
from a neutral source.
MAS
AMEDDA
If only
Senator Amidala were here.
JAR JAR steps forward from the back of the group.
JAR
JAR
Supreme
Chancellor... my august
colleagues,
I would be proud to
propose
the motion in question.
This is a
grave situation, and I'm
sure
Senator Amidala, and the
Queen of
Naboo would agree.
SENATOR
ASK AAK
Thank you,
Representative Binks.
Silence. Then PALPATINE sighs deeply.
PALPATINE
If called
upon, I will serve. But
it will be
the saddest day of my
life.
EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, HOMESTEAD MOISTURE FARM - DAY
All is quiet. BERU comes out of the house. She goes to a moisture
line and starts to draw water.
INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, GARAGE - DAY
PADME fixes the last piece of covering onto THREEPIO.
PADME
There!
PADME stands back. OWEN is with her. They look at THREEPIO. He
isn't the golden figure we know because PADME has had to use whatever stuff she
could findin the garage. He is multi-coloured in several textures, but he is
complete.
C-3PO
Um. How do
I look?
OWEN
Great! You
look perfect.
C-3PO
Perfect?
Oh, Miss Padme, I'm so
happy!
(extending
his hand to shake hers)
Oh, pardon
me.
THREEPIO drops his hand and bows formally.
THREEPIO
(continuing)
Thank you.
He forgets formality and hugs her. PADME hugs him back, laughing.
C-3PO
(continuing)
Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you!
OWEN
(grinning)
Well,
Padme, I think he should be
yours from
now on... I know that
is what my
Mom would want.
C-3PO
Oh, my!
Then suddenly, from outside:
BERU
(V.O.)
Come
topside, everybody! He's
back! He's
back!
PAGE 83
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PAGE 88
INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, GARAGE - DAY
A rough hologram of OBI-WAN is projected onto the garage by
ARTOO. ANAKIN, PADME and THREEPIO watch the flickering image.
OBI-WAN
...Alliance have pledged their
armies to
Count Dooku and are
forming
an... Wait!... ah...
attack...
I don't... make it...
aaaggghhh!
The hologram cuts off. ANAKIN jumps up, agitated.
ANAKIN
I'm going
after him!
PADME
I thought
the first thing he said
was to
retransmit his message to
Coruscant.
ANAKIN
Yeah,
you're right, you're right.
EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, MOISTURE FARM - LATE DAY
ANAKIN, PADME, ARTOO and THREEPIO leave the homestead, waving to
CLIEGG, OWEN and BERU as they go into the desert.
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP - SUNSET
ANAKIN sits down in the cockpit with PADME. THREEPIO is behind
them. ARTOO is beside him. They are watching a hologram of MACE WINDU.
MACE
WINDU
We will
deal with Count Dooku. The
most
important thing for you,
Anakin, is
to stay where you are.
Protect
the Senator at all costs.
That is
your priority.
ANAKIN
Understood,
Master.
The hologram switches off. PADME is looking at the readout on the
ship's control panel.
PADME
They'll
never get there in time to
save him.
They have to come half
way across
the galaxy. Look,
Geonosis
is less than a parsec away.
PADME starts to hit buttons and flick switches. ANAKIN puts a hand
over hers, stopping her. She stares at him.
ANAKIN
If he's
still alive.
PADME
Annie, are
you just going to sit
here and
let him die?? He's your
friend...
your mentor...
ANAKIN
...He's
like my father, but you
heard Master
Windu. He gave me
strict
orders to stay here.
PADME
He gave
you strict orders to
protect
me...
PADME pulls her hand free and flicks more switches. The engines
fire.
PADME
(continuing)
...and I'm
going to save Obi-Wan.
So if you
plan to protect me, you
will have
to come along.
ANAKIN grins and takes the controls.
EXT. TATOOINE, BLUFF OVERLOOKING HOMESTEAD - SUNSET
The Naboo Starship rises from the bluff and zooms away.
EXT. CORUSCANT, JEDI TEMPLE - DAY
TWO HUNDRED JEDI KNIGHTS are assembling outside the huge center
of the Jedi Order.
INT. CORUSCANT, JEDI TEMPLE, COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY
The JEDI COUNCIL are assembled as MACE WINDU makes his plea.
MACE
WINDU
The longer
we wait, the stronger
Dooku's
armies become. We cannot
wait for
the Senate to make up its
mind about
granting the Chancellor
emergency
powers, in order to be
able to
use that clone army... We
have the
authority to go now. We
must go
now.
All of the JEDI COUNCIL nod their approval.
YODA
Agreed,
Master Windu. Two hundred
Jedi send.
Enough, let's hope
they are.
INT. CORUSCANT, MAIN SENATE CHAMBER - DAY
Inside the great rotunda, the UPROAR is even louder. Opposing
SENATOES yell furiously at one another.
MAS AMEDDA
Order!
Order!!
Finally, the uproar dies.
PALPATINE
In the
regrettable absence of
Senator
Amidala, the chair
recognises
Senior
Representative
of Naboo, Jar Jar
Binks.
Amid the conflicting storm of CHEERS AND BOOS, JAR JAR, with TWO
GUNGAN AIDES, floats on his pod to the middle of the vast space. He looks at
PALPATINE nervously. PALPATINE nods. JAR JAR clears his throat.
JAR
JAR
Senators,
dellow felagates...
Laughter. Jeers. JAR JAR blushes.
MAS
AMEDDA
Order! The
Senate will accord the
Representative
the courtesy of a
hearing!
Comparative quiet. JAR JAR grips the edge of the podium.
JAR
JAR
In
response to the direct threat
to the
Republic from the
Confederacy
of Independent
Systems, I
propose that the Senate
gives
immediate emergency powers to
the
Supreme Chancellor.
Uproar. JAR JAR looks a little sheepish.
JAR
JAR
(continuing)
Who can
deny these are exceptional
times?
Exceptional times demand
exceptional
measures!
Exceptional
measures demand
exceptional
men!
ORN
FREE TAA
We won't
support a dictator.
SHOUTS of agreement.
JAR
JAR
That is
the sentiment every one of
us agrees
with! And when the
shadow of
war has dispersed and
the bright
day of liberty has
dawned
once again, the power we now
give to
the Supreme Chancellor
will be
gladly, and swiftly
returned.
Out ancient liberties
will be
restored to us, burnished
even more
brightly than before!
Brief silence, then a rolling wave of APPLAUSE. JAR JAR beams and
bows.
PALPATINE rises.
PALPATINE
It is with
great reluctance that
I have
agreed to this calling. I
love
democracy... I love the
Republic.
The fact that this
crisis is
demanding I be given
absolute
power to tule over you is
evident.
But I am mild by nature
and have
no desire to destroy
the
democratic process. The power you
give me I
will lay down when this
crisis has
abated, I promise you.
And all I
ask in return is when my
current
term of office is over,
you allow
me to reture and live
out my
life in peace.
MAS
AMEDDA
We shall
proceed to the vote. All
those in
favor of granting
emergency
powers to the Supreme
Chancellor,
signal ate at this
time...
those opposed?
EXT. SPACE
The Naboo Starship heads toward the rings of Geonosis.
EXT. GEONOSIS, LANDING AREA
The Naboo Starship lands.
INT. COCKPIT, NAOO STARFIGHTER - DAY
ANAKIN switches off the engines. ARTOO and THREEPIO are in the
navigation area of the cockpit. PADME is in the co-pilot's seat. She gets up.
ANAKIN
Hey, where
are you going?
PADME
To find
Obi-Wan.
ANAKIN gets up and goes over to her.
ANAKIN
No! You're
not!
He grabs her arm.
PADME
Let go of me!
ANAKIN
I'm not
letting you go out there.
It's too
dangerous.
PADMÉ
What?!?
ANAKIN
It's my
job to protect you. I said
it's too
dangerous. You're not
going, and
that's final!
PADMÉ
Don't you
give me orders, Annie!
I'm a
Senator of the Galactic
Republic.
You have no authority
to contain
me, restrain me, or
direct me!
You remember your
place,
young man.
(standing
up)
Now you
can come along and protect
me or stay
here. It's up to you.
PADME storms out of the cockpit of the Naboo Starfighter. ANAKIN
stands scratching his head, then follows.
ARTOO BEEPS and WHISTLES.
C-3PO
Yes, it
is, Artoo. Most
confusing.
One moment they're
generating
a pleasant mutual
attraction
and the next, waves of
violent
hostility. Even though
I'm
programmed to understand them,
I doubt if
I ever shall.
ARTOO WHISTLES a plaintive sigh.
INT. GEONOSIS, CORRIDORS - DAY
ANAKIN and PADME enter the stalagmite city. They stop, looking
around in wonder at the emptiness.
PADME
(in
a low voice)
It's
empty!
They start forward. As they pass, the surface of the pillars
seems to pulse slowly and move. High above WINGED CREATURES grow from the
pillars and detach themselves.
INT. GEONOSIS, CENTRAL SQUARE - DAY
ANAKIN and PADME cross the square, reaching the middle. They stop
suddenly as FOUR GEONOSIANS grabs them. ANAKIN reaches for his lightsaber.
PADME
Wait!
TWENTY WINGED GEONOSIANS carrying weapons alight on the
flagstones in front of them.
The GEONOSIANS part, and COUNT DOOKU appears. He bows
courteously.
COUNT
DOOKU
Senator
Amidala, I've heard so
much about
you.
PADMÉ
Count
Dooku, I assume.
COUNT
DOOKU
I'm
delighted to meet you at
last. We have
a great deal to
discuss,
Senator. I hope you can
keep your
young Jedi under control.
PADMÉ
Don't
worry he's housebroken.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM (GEONOSIS) - DAY
COUNT DOOKU sits at a large conference table with PADME on the
far
side. ANAKIN stands behind her with FOUR GEONOSIANS GUARDS
standing behind him. JANGO FETT stands behind COUNT DOOKU, and SIX GEONOSIAN
GUARDS stand behind him.
PADMÉ
You are
holding a Jedi Knight, Obi-
Wan
Kenobi. I am formally
requesting
you turn him over to
me, now.
DOOKU
He has
been convicted of
espionage,
Senator, and will be
executed.
In just a few hours, I
believe.
COUNT DOOKU smiles.
PADMÉ
He is an
officer of the Republic.
You can't
do that.
DOOKU
We don't
recognise the Republic
here,
Senator. But if Naboo were
to join
our Alliance, I could
easily
hear your plea for clemency.
ANAKIN grabs his lightsaber but doesn't turn it on.
PADMÉ
And if I
don't join your
rebellion,
I assume this Jedi with
me will
also die?
DOOKU
I don't
wish to make you to join
our cause
against your will,
Senator,
but you are a rational,
honest
representative of your
people and
I assume you want to do
what's in
their best interest.
Aren't you fed up with the
corruption,
the bureaucrats, the
hypocrisy
of it all?.. Aren't
you? Be
honest, Senator.
PADMÉ
The ideals
are still alive, Count,
even if
the institution is failing.
DOOKU
You
believe in the same ideals we
believe
in! The same ideals we
are
striving to make prominent.
PADMÉ
If what
you say is true, you
should
stay in the Republic and
help
Chancellor Palpatine put
things
right.
DOOKU
The
Chancellor means well, M'Lady
but he is
incompetent. He has
promised
to cut the bureaucracy,
but the
bureaucrats are stronger
than ever,
no? Senator, the
Republic
cannot be fixed. It is
time to
start over. The
democratic
process in the Republic
is a sham,
a shell game played
on the
voters. It will not be long
before the
cult of greed, called
the
Republic, will lose even the
pretext of
democracy and freedom.
PADMÉ
I cannot
believe that. I will not
forsake
all I have honoured and
worked for
and betray the
Republic.
I know of your treaties
with the
Trade Federation, the
Commerce
Guilds, and the others,
Count.
What is happening here is
not
government that has been
bought out
by business... it's
business
becoming government!
DOOKU
Are you
willing to betray your Jedi
friends?
Without your co-operation
I can do
nothing to stop their
execution.
PADMÉ
What is to
happen to me? Am I to be
executed
also?
DOOKU
I wouldn't
think of such an
offence. But, there are
individuals
who have a strong
interest
in your demise, M'lady.
It has
nothing to do with
politics,
I'm afraid. It's purely
personal,
and they have already
paid great
sums to have you
assassinated.
I'm sure they will
push hard
to have you included in
the
executions. I'm sorry but if
you are
not going to co-operate, I
must turn
you over to the
Geonosians
for justice. I've done
all I can
for you.
JANGO FETT moves over to ANAKIN.
JANGO
FETT
I'll take
that weapon.
ANAKIN hesitates.
DOOKU
You may
cause a lot of bloodshed,
my young
Jedi, but you will not
escape.
PADMÉ
Anakin...
ANAKIN hands his lightsaber over to JANGO FETT.
INT. GEONOSIS, HIGH AUDIENCE CHAMBER - DAY
ANAKIN and PADME are standing in the centre of what looks like a
courtroom. Seated before them in a tall, boxed-off area is POGGLE THE LESSER,
Archduke of Geonosis. He is accompanied by his underling, SUN RIT. Off to one
side the Separatist Senators PO NUDU, TESSEK, and TOONBUCK TOORA. Next to them
are the Commerce Dignitaries, SHU MAI, NUTE GUNRAY, PASSEL ARGENTE, WAT TAMBOR
and SAN HILL of the Intergalactic Bank Clan. Along the wall about a HUNDRED
GEONOSIANS wait for a verdict.
SUN
RIT
You have been
charged and found
guilty of
Espionage.
POGGLE
Do you
have anything to say before
your
sentence is carried out?
PADMÉ
You are
committing an act of war,
Archduke.
I hope you are prepared
for the
consequences.
POGGLE laughs. COUNT DOOKU simply smiles.
POGGLE
We build
weapons, Senator... that
is our
business! Of course we're
prepared!
NUTE
GUNRAY
Get on
with it. Carry out the
sentence.
I want to see her suffer.
POGGLE
Your other
Jedi friend is waiting
for you,
Senator. Take them to
the arena!
FOUR GUARDS take hold of PADME and ANAKIN. They are escorted out
of the chamber to the sounds of chuckling.
INT. GEONOSIS TUNNEL TO EXECUTION ARENA - DAY
In the gloomy tunnel, ANAKIN and PADME are tossed into an open
cart. The murmur of a vast crowd is heard offscreen. GUARDS extend their arms
along the framework and tie them so that they stand facing each other.
The DRIVER gets up onto his seat.
ANAKIN
Don't be
afraid.
PADMÉ
I'm not
afraid to die. I've been
dying a
little bit each day since
you came
back into my life.
ANAKIN
What are
you talking about?
PADMÉ
I love
you.
ANAKIN
You love
me?! I thought we
decided
not to fall in love. That
we would
be forced to live a lie.
That it
would destroy our lives...
PADMÉ
I think
our lives are about to be
destroyed
anyway. My love for you
is a
puzzle, Annie, for which I
have no
answers. I can't control
it... and
now I don't care. I
truly,
deeply love you, and before
we die I
want you to know.
PADME leans toward ANAKIN. By straining hard, it is just possible
for
their lips to meet. They kiss.
ANAKIN
I have no
desire to be cured of
this love
either. Long or short,
I vow to
spend the rest of my life
with you.
They kiss again.
The DRIVER cracks his whip over the ORRAY harnessed between the
shafts. The cart jerks forward. Suddenly, there isa HUGE ROAR and blinding
sunlight as they emerge into the arena
INT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY
The great stadium is packed with tier upon tier of yelling
GEONOSIANS. The cart trundles to the center, where OBI-WAN is chained to one of
four upright posts thatare three feet in diameter. The cart stops. PADME and
ANAKIN are taken down, dragged to posts, and chained to them. PADME is in the
center.
OBI-WAN
I was
beginning to wonder if you
had gotten
my message.
ANAKIN
I
retransmitted it as you
requested,
Master. Then we decided
to come
and rescue you.
OBI-WAN
It looks
like you're going a good
job so
far.
Their arms are pulled high above their heads, and the cart drives
away. There is another ROAR as POGGLE THE LESSER, COUNT DOOKU, NUTE GUNRAY, THE
FETTS and DIGNITARIES arrive in the archducal box and take their places.
SUN
RIT
The felons
before you have been
convicted
of espionage against the
Sovereign
System of Geonosis.
Their
sentence of death is to be
carried
out in this public arena
henceforth.
The crowd ROARS and CHEERS. In the box, POGGLE THE LESSER rises.
The crowd becomes quiet.
POGGLE
Let the
executions begin!
The crowd goes wild.
ANAKIN
I have a
bad feeling about this.
From different gates around the arena, THREE MONSTERS are driven in.
One is a REEK (bull-like), one is a NEXU (lion-like), and one is an ACKLAY (a
kind of dino-lobster). They are driven in by PICADORS carrying long spears and
riding ORRAYS. The PICADORS poke the MONSTERS toward the center, then retire to
the perimeter.
The MONSTERS toss their heads, looking around, ROARING or
SCREECHING. Then they catch sight of the THREE CAPTIVES and start moving toward
them.
OBI-WAN
Take the
one the left. I'll
take the
one on the right.
ANAKIN
What about
Padme?
PADME has turned around and is pulling herself up by the chain to
the top of the post. Within a moment, she is standing on top of it, trying to
pull the chain free.
OBI-WAN
It looks
like she's already on top
of things.
The REEK charges ANAKIN. He jumps up, and the beast hits the post
hard. ANAKIN lands onto its back, wrapping part of his chain around its horn.
The REEK backs off, shaking its head angrily, which tears the chain from the
post
OBI-WAN ducks around the post as the ACKLAY charges. It knocks
the post flat, sending OBI-WAN sprawling. The ACKLAY crunches the post between
its claws, freeing the chain. OBI-WAN leaps up and runs towards ONE of the
PICADORS. The ACKLAY taks off after him.
The NEXU arrives at PADME'S post and rears on its hind legs. One
top, PADME struggles to tear the chain free. The NEXU ROARS, displaying wicked,
dripping fangs.
In the archducal box, NUTE GUNRAY beams and rubs his hands.
In the arena, OBI-WAN runs at the PICADOR. The ORRAY rears up.
OBI-WAN grabs the PICADOR'S long spear and pole vaults over him. The chasing
ACKLAY smashes into the ORRAY. It goes down. The PICADOR tumbles onto the sand,
where he is grabbed by the ACKLAY and crunched.
ANAKIN's REEK starts to buck. It charges around the arena with
ANAKIN hanging on for dear life. He whirls the free length of chain around his
head and casts it into the REEK's mouth. Its jaws clamp hard on the chain.
ANAKIN yanks hard on the chain, turning the REEK, beginning to ride it.
The NEXU's claws dig deep into the post. The cat-like creature
reaches the top of the post and takes a swipe at PADME. She turns and the claw
barely catches her shirt ripping it off, leaving superficial claw marks across
her back. She hits the creature with her chain and it backs off down the pole.
Then, PADME jumps off the post into the air. She swings around on the chain and
whacks the beast hard on the head with both her feet. It tumbles back onto the
sand.
In the archducal box:
NUTE
GUNRAY
Foul!! She
can't do that... shoot
her or
something!
In the arena, OBI-WAN runs out from behind the fallen ORRAY and
throws the spear at the ACKLAY, hitting it in the neck. It lets out a terrible
SCREECH and turns on him. The NEXU springs up and makes to leap up at PADME
again. She finally manages to work the chain loose. ANAKIN comes charging up on
the REEK.
ANAKIN
You okay?
PADME
(nods,
gasping)
Sure!
Well, sort of.
ANAKIN
Jump!!!
The NEXU springs. PADME leaps from the top of the post to land on
the REEK in front of ANAKIN. He hauls her upright. The REEK charges away,
around the arena. The NEXU bounds after it. The REEK passes the wounded ACKLAY.
The NEXU smells the blood and turns aside to attack the ACKLAY. The TWO
MONSTERS fight. The crowd GROANS and BOOS.
In the archducal box, NUTE GUNRAY turns angrily to COUNT DOOKU.
NUTE
GUNRAY
This isn't
how it's supposed to
be! Jango,
finish her off.
COUNT DOOKU motions for the bounty hunter to ptay put. BOBA FETT
is enjoying the spectacle.
COUNT
DOOKU
(smiling
enigmatically)
Patiece,
Viceroy... she will die.
Maybe this
is the way it's
supposed
to end.
OBI-WAN runs and jumps on the back of the REEK behind ANAKIN.
Across the arena, the NEXU, having chewed up the ACKLAY, starts to advance
toward them.
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP - DAY
ARTOO BEEPS
C-3PO
Yes, it
has been rather a long
time. Do
you suppose something's
happened
to them?
ARTOO BEEPS and WHISTLES.
C-3PO
(continuing)
Danger? Oh
no, I shouldn't think
so. It
looks a very dull planet
to me.
They should be back
shortly.
Just stop worrying, Artoo.
EXT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY
In the archducal box, amid the uproar, COUNT DOOKU feels a tap on
his shoulder. He turns to see MACE WINDU standing behind him. COUNT DOOKU masks
his surprise elegantly as he surveys the arena and sees JEDI KNIGHTS standing
at every entrance and exit.
COUNT DOOKU
Master
Windu, how pleasant of you
to join
us. You're just in time
for the
moment of truth. I would
think
these two new boys of yours
could use
a little more training.
MACE
WINDU
Sorry to
disappoint you, Dooku.
This party's
over.
MACE WINDU signals, and at stategic places around the arena there
are sudden flashes of light as about ONE HUNDRED JEDI switch on their
lightsabers. The crowd is suddenly silent. COUNT DOOKU'S lips curl in slight
amusement.
COUNT
DOOKU
(to Mace Windu)
Brave, but
stupid, my old Jedi
friend.
You're impossibly
outnumbered.
MACE
WINDU
I don't
think so. One Jedi has to
be worth a
hundred Geonosians.
COUNT DOOKU looks around the great theater. His smile grows.
COUNT
DOOKU
It wasn't
the Geonosians I was
thinking
about. How well do you
think one
Jedi will hold up
against a
thousand battle droids?
COUNT DOOKU signals. THOUSANDS OF DROIDS start to pour into all
parts of the arena.
MACE WINDU draws his lightsaber, JANGO FETT draws his guns and
fires at MACE WINDU, who deflects the shots. JANGO FETT and MACE WINDU jump
into the arena, where they fight. BOBA FETT wacthes his Dad and the Jedi Master
fight. The battle beginss. GEONOSIANS fly away everywhere. DROIDS fire at JEDI,
who deflect the bolts and cult down the DROIDS. The GEONOSIAN TROOPS fire ray
guns that are more difficult for the JEDI to deflect.
The REEK and the NEXU are spooked by the battle. The REEK bucks
the riders off its back and stampedes around the arena, trampling DROIDS and
JEDI that have moved into its path. PADME picks up a discarded pistol and joins
the fight. SEVERAL JEDI run to the center of the arena and toss lightsabers to
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN.
Among the crowd, JEDI cut down swaths of GEONOSIANS and DROIDS.
On the sand, JEDI fight, attacking DROIDS. OBI0WAN and ANAKIN swing their
lightsabers, cutting DROIDS in half. PADME blasts away at DROIDS and
GEONOSIANS.
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP
ARTOO whistles.
C-3PO
I don't
hear anything.
(Artoo
beeps)
You're
scaring me! Stop imagining
things!
EXT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY
Among the tiers, JEDI are slowly being driven back. They have
killed heaps of GEONOSIANS and have kncoked out piles of DROIDS, but sheer
numbers are telling. Individual JEDI are being cut down or blasted/ The rest
are retreating into the arena.
ANAKIN and PADME are back-to-back, fighting DROIDS and flying
GEONOSIANS. MACE WINDU fights fiercely with JANGO FETT. Finally, the bounty hunter
falls. His helmet goes flying, bouncing down the steps, tumbling and rolling,
kicked here and there by random feet. The bounty hunter's body falls to the
ground.
MACE WINDU runs to the center of the arena and fights
back-to-back with OBI-WAN, as they swipe and mangle DROIDS.
OBI-WAN
Someone's
got to - shut down -
these
droids.
MACE
WINDU
Don't
worry! It's being - taken
care of!
EXT. GEONOSIS, FEDERATION STARSHIP - DAY
KI-ADI-MUNDI leads a raiding party of about TWENTY JEDI through
the lines of parked Battle Starships. They cut a swath through masses of DROIDS
until they arrive at the Command Starship. Some JEDI fall. The rest cut their
way up the ramps and into the Command Ship.
INT. COMMAND FEDERATION STARSHIP, CORRIDORS - DAY
KI-ADI-MUNDI and teh surviving JEDI fight their way through the
corridors of the Command Ship, deflecting laser bolts, slicing DROIDS.
INT. COMMAND FEDERATION STARSHIP, CONTROL BRIDGE - DAY
THEY burst onto the bridge and chop down the COMMAND DROIDS. The
NEIMOIDIANS flee in all directions. KE-ADI-MUNDI leans over the control panel.
He locates the illuminated master switch and punches down on it. It goes dark.
Instantly, all the DROIDS on the Starship and all the DROIDS in the arena
FREEZE!
There is a moment of stunned silence, then the JEDI CHEER. One
the bridge, PLO KOON claps KI-ADI-MUNDI on the back.
PLO
KOON
We've done
it! Now we have a
chance!
Suddenly, there is a harsh BEEPING SOUND. All the DROIDS on the
Starship and all the DROIDS in the arena start fighting again! KI-ADI-MUNDI
stares in disbelief and dismay.
KI-ADI-MUNDI
The
system's off but they're still
active.
That's a new feature. They
are
independent of the control
system.
EXT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY
MACE WINDU, OBI-WAN, ANAKIN, PADME and an exhausted group of
about TWENTY JEDI stand in the center of the arena surrounded by a ring of
BATTLE DROIDS. The bloodied sand around them is strewn with the bodies of DEAD
GEONOSIANS, SHATTERED DROIDS and JEDI.
At the foot of some steps, BOBA FETT finds his father's battered
helmet. He picks it up.
KI-ADI-MUNDI and the SURVIVORS from the raiding party are herded
into the arena by SUPERDROIDS. From the encircling tiers above, THOUSANDS OF
BATTLE DROIDS level their weapons menacingly.
In the archducal box, COUNT DOOKU lifts his hand. The DROIDS
lower their weapons. The COUNT calls out to the JEDI.
COUNT
DOOKU
Master Windu!
Silence.
COUNT
DOOKU
(continuing)
You have
fought gallantly. Worthy
of
recognition in the history
archives
of the Jedi Order. Now
it is
finished.
(pauses
briefly)
Surrender
- and your lives will be
spared.
MACE
WINDU
We will
not be hostages for you to
barter
with Dooku.
COUNT
DOOKU
Then, I'm
sorry, old friend. You
will have
to be destroyed.
The DROIDS raise their weapons. ANAKIN and PADME clasps hands
tightly. COUNT DOOKU raises his hand to give the order to fire. PADME looks up
suddenlt and whispers to ANAKIN.
PADME
Look!
Above, six Gunships are descending fast through the open area in
the arena ceiling. They land in a cluster around the handful of JEDI. CLONE
TROOPERS spill out and start firing at the DROIDS. There is a hellstorm of
laserfire that bounces off the laser shields created by the Gunships. YODA
appears at the door of one of the Gunships.
YODA
Come on -
hurry! Hurry!
The SURVIVING JEDI dash to the Gunships and scramble in. MACE
WINDU hangs on tight as the Gunship, firing all its weapons, rises out of the
arena up and over the topmost rim.
EXT. GEONOSIS, TERRAIN OUTSIDE EXECUTION ARENA - DAY
The massed lines of parked Federation Starships and the DROIDS
surrounding the arena, are themselves surrounded by thousands of Republic
Starships, disgorging TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CLONE TROOPERS. Beyond, more
Republic Starships are landing and spewing out troops.
INT. GUNSHIP NUMBER ONE - DAY
MACE WINDU stares at the incredible sight.
YODA
More
battalions to the left.
Encircle
them we must, then
divide.
The CLONE TROOPERS open fire with artillery. EXPLOSIONS wreck the
parked Battle Starships. CLONE TROOPERS advance, firing at the massed DROIDS.
FIGHTER DROIDS fly overhead, exchanging fire with the Gunships and JEDI
fighters.
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP - DAY
THREEPIO and ARTOO see flashes outside of the ship, exploding
everywhere.
C-3PO
I'm sure I
heard something, this
time.
Didn't you? It's probably
just a
celebration
ARTOO lets out an EXHAUSTED BLEEP.
EXT. BATTLEFIELD, GEONOSIS LANDSCAPE - DAY
Gunship #2 skims the battlefield, firing down, deflecting
answering fire from the droids.
INT. GUNSHIP NUMBER TWO - DAY
OBI-WAN, ANAKIN and PADME are at the open sides of the Gunship.
CLONES fire down at the DROIDS below.
The Gunship slows, circling over a droid gun-emplacement. It
blasts it, but suddenly the Gunship is rocked by a near miss. It lurches
violently.
OBI-WAN
Hold on!
Look over there...
Through the other side of the Gunship, they see a Geonosian
Speeder racing past. In the open cockpit is the unmistakable figure of COUNT
DOOKU.
ANAKIN
It's
Dooku, go after him!
The PILOT starts to comply, but... there is a HUGE BLASTS, the
ship lurches on its side, and PADME tumbles out.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
Padme!!!
ANAKIN stares down in horror as PADME hits thr ground below.
ANAKIN
(continuing;
to pilot)
Put the
ship down! Down!
OBI-WAN
No! Forget
her. We have to go
after
Dooku.
ANAKIN
No we're
not!! Land this ship!
OBI-WAN
Don't let
your personal feelings
get in the
way. We've got a job to
do.
Below, PADME hauls herself to her feet and waves for them to go
after DOOKU.
ANAKIN
I don't
care!.. Go back.
OBI-WAN
Anakin!
She's all right! Look.
ANAKIN stares out to see PADME rescued by CLONE TROOPERS.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
Follow
that speeder!
On the ground, PADME looks up at Gunship #2 as it speeds away
after Count Dooku. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN follow the speeder to a Geonosian tower.
The speeder decsends rapidly; the Gunship follows.
Count Dooku's speeder parks outside the tower; the Gunship parks
next to it. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN leap down and run inside the tower.
INT. GEONOSIS, SECRET HANGER TOWER - LATE DAY
COUNT DOOKU throws switches on a control panel. His Interstellar
Sail Ship is guarded by a SQUAD OF SUPER BATTLE DROIDS. The doors of the
exit-port slide open.
DROID
CAPTAIN
Your
Excellency!
COUNT DOOKU turns as OBI-WAN and ANAKIN run in through the hanger
doors. They draw their lightsabers. The DROIDS raise their weapons.
COUNT
DOOKU
That won't
be necessary, Captain.
Stand
down. And leave them to me.
The DROIDS lower their weapons and back off to the walls. COUNT
DOOKU looks at OBI-WAN and ANAKIN with slight amusement.
OBI-WAN
(to
Anakin)
We move in
together - you slowly
on the...
ANAKIN
I'm taking
him now!
OBI-WAN
Anakin,
no!
ANAKIN
You'll pay
for all the Jedi you've
killed
today, Dooku.
ANAKIN charges across the open space at COUNT DOOKU, who smiles
faintly, watching him come. ANAKIN raises his lightsaber. At the last moment,
COUNT DOOKU thrusts out an arm, and ANAKIN is lifted up, hurled across the
room, and slammed into the opposite wall. He slumps to the foot of the wall,
semi-conscious. COUNT DOOKU moves toward OBI-WAN
COUNT
DOOKU
Kenobi,
isn't it? As you can see,
my Jedi
powers are far beyond
yours.
Now, back down.
OBI-WAN
I don't
think so.
OBI-WAN lifts his lightsaber. COUNT DOOKU smiles.
COUNT
DOOKU
Ah, but if
I must.
COUNT DOOKU draws his lightsaber. He and OBI-WAN start to circle
each other.
COUNT
DOOKU
(continuing)
I have
spent the last ten years
learning
to use the power of the
Dark Side.
It gives me infinitely
greater
power.
OBI-WAN
You will
have to prove it.
OBI-WAN comes in fast, swinging at COUNT DOOKU'S head. DOOKU
parries the cut easily. As they fight, it quickly becomes clear that DOOKU is
the complete swordsman - elegant, graceful, classical - a master of the old
style.
COUNT
DOOKU
Grand
Master Kenobi, you
disappoint
me. Yoda holds you in
such high
esteem.
COUNT DOOKU parried another cut.
COUNT
DOOKU
(continuing)
Surely you
can do better...?
(parries)
No, I'm
surprised. Has Jedi
swordsmanship
degenerated so
quickly,
or are you trying to make
fun of me?
(cuts)
Which is
it?
COUNT DOOKU thrusts. OBI-WAN steps back quickly, panting for
breath.
COUNT
DOOKU
(continuing)
come,
come, Master Kenobi. Put me
out of my
misery.
OBI-WAN takes a deep breath, gets a fresh grip on his lightsaber
and comes in again. For a moment, he drives COUNT DOOKU back. Then Dooku's
superior skill begins to tell again, and he forces OBI-WAN to retreat.
COUNT DOOKU increases the tempo of his attack. OBI-WAN is pushed
to the limit to defend himself. DOOKU presses. His lightsaber flashes.
OBI-WAN is wounded in the shoulder, then the thigh. He stumbles
back against the wall, trips, and falls. His lightsaber goes skittering across
the floor.
COUNT DOOKU raises his lightsaber. OBI-WAN looks up helplessly.
Dooku's lightsaber flashes down and CLASHES against - Anakin's lightsaber!
COUNT DOOKU and ANAKIN stare eyeball to eyeball.
COUNT DOOKU
(continuing)
That's
brave of you, boy - but
foolish. I
would have thought
you'd have
learnt your lesson.
ANAKIN
I'm a slow
learner.
And ANAKIN charges at COUNT DOOKU. The force of his attack catches
the Count slightly off balance. Anakin's lightsaber flashes. COUNT DOOKU draws
back, putting a hand to his arm. He takes the hand away and looks at the smear
of blood whee Anakin has nicked him.
COUNT
DOOKU
You have
unusual powers, young
Padawan. But not enought to save
you this
time.
ANAKIN
Don't bet
on it!
OBI-WAN
Anakin!
OBI-WAN uses the Force to catch his lightsaber and he tosses it
to ANAKIN. With TWO LIGHTSABERS, ANAKIN attacks. COUNT DOOKU parries and
ripostes. It is no contest. ANAKIN is driven back against the wall. He loses
one lightsaber. Finally COUNT DOOKU, in one flashing move, sends Anakin's arm,
cut at the elbow, flying still gripping his lightsaber. ANAKIN drops to the
ground in agony. COUNT DOOKU draws himself up to deliver the coup de grace.
Suddenly, the great doors slide open. The DROIDS turn fast,
raising their weapons. Through the thick smoke, emerges the heroic figure of
YODA. He stops on the smoke-filled threashold, FOUR DROIDS lined up on either
side of him, guns pointed.
Before the DROIDS can get off a shot, YODA raises his hand, and
the DROIDS are flung against the far walls and crash to the floor in heaps of
smoking metal.
Silence. COUNT DOOKU steps away from ANAKIN to face the Jedi
Grand Master. His lightsaber whirls in a formal salute.
COUNT
DOOKU
Master
Yoda. At last we shall
know who
is the most powerful.
YODA draws a miniature lightsaber out of his cane. He salutes
formally.
YODA
Count
Dooku. No interest in
contests,
do I have.
COUNT DOOKU charges across the space at YODA. He rains down blows
upon the tiny figure. YODA doesn't budge an inch. For the first part of the
contest, he parries every cut and thrust that Dooku aims. Nothing the great
swordsman tries gets through. His energy drains. His strokes become feebler,
slower.
YODA attacks! He flies forward. COUNT DOOKU is forced to retreat.
Wprds are insufficient to describe the range and skill of Yoda's speed and
swordplay. His lightsaber his a humming blur of light.
Count Dooku's lightsaber is sent cartwheeling from his hand. He
staggers back, gasping and spent, against the control panel. YODA jumps onto
DOOKU'S shoulders, and is about to drive the lightsaber into the top of the
Count's head.
YODA
(continuing)
The end
for you, Count, this is.
COUNT
DOOKU
...Not
yet...
COUNT DOOKU raises his arms and knocks YODA off his shoulders and
then, with all his might, he uses the Force to pull on one of the cranes in the
hanger. It comes crashing down on OBI-WAN and ANAKIN. But in the blink of and
eye, YODA is under the crane, holding it up, using the Force. YODA closes his
eyes and concentrates.
ANAKIN is unconscious, and OBI0WAN tries toget out from under the
crane. The fallen crane trembles and starts to life. Behind it, the sound of
the Sail Ship's engines are heard starting up.
YODA concentrates harder. Slowly, the crane rises. The SOUND OF
THE ENGINES increases. YODA exerts every scrap of his powers. The crane lifts
clear of ANAKIN and is thrown to the ground. DOOKU'S Sail Ship takes off.
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN struggle to the exhausted YODA, but it's too late. The Sail
Ship rises into the air and flies away. PADMÉ and a CLONE CAPTAIN with about
TEN TROOPERS appear in the doorway.
PADMÉ
Anakin!
PADMÉ runs too him and throws her arms around him. ANAKIN is
barely able to stand up. The CLONE CAPTAIN marches up to YODA, stops, and
salutes smartly.
CLONE
CAPTAIN
Resistance
is at an end, General.
What are
your orders ?
YODA looks at him and sighs.
EXT. CORUSCANT, OLD TOWN - DAWN
COUNT DOOKU'S Interstellar Sail Ship glides through a deserted,
burned-out part of Coruscant. COUNT DOOKU manoeuvres the ship into one of the
empty buildings and lands.
INT. CORUSCANT, SECRET LANDING PLATFORM - DAWN
The ramp lowers. COUNT DOOKU emerges and walks to where the
hooded figure of DARTH SIDIOUS stands waiting. COUNT DOOKU bows.
COUNT
DOOKU
The Force
is with us, my Master.
DARTH
SIDIOUS
Welcome
home, Lord Tyranus. You have
done well.
COUNT
DOOKU
I bring
you good news, my Lord.
The war
has begun.
DARTH
SIDIOUS
Excellent.
(smiling)
Everything
is going as planned.
EXT. CORUSCANT, JEDI TEMPLE - SUNSET
The beautiful temple basks in the red glow of the setting sun.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE, COUNCIL CHAMBER - SUNSET
MACE
WINDU
Where is
your apprentice?
OBI-WAN
On his way
back to Naboo. He is
escorting
Senator Amidala home.
They are standing, looking out through the tall windows at the
great plaza below. YODA sits in his chair.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
I must
admit without the clones,
it would
not have been a victory.
YODA
Victory?
Victory, you say?
OBI-WAN turns and looks at the sad little Jedi sitting in the
Council Chamber. Apart from KI-ADI-MUNDI and PLO KOON, who is wounded, the
Chamber is empty.
YODA
(continuing)
Not
victory, a defeat, it was...
Master
Obi-Wan. Begun, the Clone
War has!
EXT. NABOO
In a rose-covered arbor overlooking the sparkling late, ANAKIN
and PADME stand before a NABOO HOLY MAN.
THREEPIO and ARTOO stand by, watching, as the HOLY MAN blesses
the happy couple and, amid gently falling rose petals, ANAKIN and PADME kiss.
EXT. CORUSCANT, MILITARY STAGING AREA, BALCONY - LATE DAY
PALPATINE, JAR JAR, BAIL ORGANA and the OTHER SENATORS, with TWO
ROYAL GUARDS, stand looking down at the square below.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CLONE TROOPS are drawn up in a strict
formation or move forwards in near files to climb the ramps of the Military
Assault Ships.
On the balcony, PALPATINE'S expression is deeply sad. Everyone
watches comberly as, in the square, loaded Assault Ships take off. Other land
immediately in their place. The sky above is thick with transports. CLONE
TROOPS march and board the Ships.
The
Phantom Menace | Attack of the Clones | Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: A New Hope | The Empire Strikes Back
| Return of the Jedi
1998-2005, Jedi Vega