Episode I Script Latest Snippet by InfoDroid ... EXT. MOS ESPA - JUNK DEALER PLAZA - DAY The GROUP comes to a little plaza surrounded by several junk spaceship dealers. QUI-GON: We'll try one of the smaller dealers. They head for a little junk shop that has a huge pile of broken spaceships stacked up behind it. INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY The bell dings as QUI-GON, JAR JAR, PADME, and ARTOO enter the dingy junk shop and are greeted by WATTO who is humming the “cantina song” as they approach. WATTO: (subtitled) Booda da nolia. (Finally, some business.) Hi chuba da naga? (What can I do for ya?) QUI-GON: I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian. WATTO: Ah yes, Nubian. We have lots of that. (subtitled) Peedenkel! Naba dee unko! (Boy! Get in here!) QUI-GON: My droid here has a readout of what I need. A disheveled boy, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, runs in from the junk yard. He is about nine years old, very dirty, and dressed in rags. WATTO raises a hand, and ANAKIN flinches. WATTO: (subtitled) Coona tee-tocky malia? (You get slower by the hour!) ANAKIN: (subtitled) Mel tassa cho-passa... (Then buy a different slave!) WATTO: (subtitled) Chut-Chut! Ganda doe wallya. (Shut up and watch the store!) Me dwana no bata. (Before I smack that smart mouth of yours!) (to Gui-Gon) Soooo, let me take- a thee out back. Maybe we'll find what you need. ARTOO and QUI-GON follow WATTO toward the junk yard, leaving JAR JAR with PADME and the young boy ANAKIN. Jar-Jar wanders off to look at junk. Cut “Don’t touch anything.” Cut Jar-Jar’s tongue. Keep the shot of him walking over and looking at the pit droid real quick, then cut back to Padme standing there uncomfortably. ANAKIN: (To Padme, taken from a later clip of him speaking Huttese to Sebulba, inserted into the wide shot.) (Subtitled: Has anyone ever told you, you have the face of an angel?) Padme turns to face him, rather surprised. PADME: What? ANAKIN: An angel. They’re the most beautiful creatures in the universe. PADME: You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much? ANAKIN: I listen to all the traders and star-pilots who come through here. PADME: How long have you been here? ANAKIN: Since I was very little. My Mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us, betting on the Podraces. PADME: You're a slave? ANAKIN: All my life… (a beat) …and someday, I’m gonna fly away from this place. Cut to appropriate reaction shot of Padme listening. She’s intrigued by this boy. (NOTE: The exchanges between Anakin and Padme should be edited in a way where it sounds natural. We don’t need to see the actor say every line. We can cut to reaction shots, “listening” shots, etc. if necessary. Meanwhile, cut out all the Jar-Jar stuff.) EXT. WATTO'S JUNK YARD - BEHIND SHOP - DAY WATTO reads a small portable monitor he is holding. He stands before a hyperdrive. WATTO: ...a T-14 hyperdrive generator!! Thee in luck, I'm the only one hereabouts who has one...but thee might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper, I think...Saying of which, how's thee going to pay for all this? QUI-GON: I have 20,000 Republic dataries. WATTO: Republic credits?!? Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real... QUI-GON: I don't have anything else. (raising his hand) But credits will do fine. WATTO: No they won'ta. QUI-GON, using his mind power, waves his hand again. QUI-GON: Credits will do fine. WATTO: No, they won'ta. What you think you're some kinda Jedi? Waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don'ta work on me - only money. No money, no parts! No deal! And no one else has a T-14 hyperdrive, I promise you that. QG smiles politely, nods and walks back toward the shop. INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY ANAKIN: ...wouldn't have lasted long anyway if I weren't so good at fixing things. QUI-GON hurries into the shop, followed by ARTOO. (Cut Jar-Jar slapstick completely. QG walks past Anakin and Padme.) WATTO: (in background, from outside.) Hey! Come back when you have some money! QUI-GON: (cut this line and add it in a few seconds later, slightly overlapping what Anakin is saying.) We're leaving. Jar-Jar! (We hear Jar-Jar dropping stuff in the background but don’t see it.) PADME gives ANAKIN a loving look. PADME: I’m glad to have met you, Anakin. She follows Qui-Gon and Artoo out the door. ANAKIN: (Calling after her.) I was glad to meet you too! Jar-Jar is close behind. (Cut before JJ looks like an idiot, looking the wrong direction.) WATTO enters the shop, shaking his head. WATTO: (subtitled) Ootmians! Tinka me chasa hopoe ma booty na nolia? (Deadbeats! What were you telling that ugly little girl?) ANAKIN: (subtitled) La lova num botaffa. (Just that she’s going to marry me someday.) WATTO: (subtitled) Fweepa niaga. Tolpa da bunky dunko. (Yeah, keep dreaming, Boy. Back to work.) ANAKIN gets up and runs out the back. Mute the “Yippee!” WATTO turns his head and gazes outside with a concerned look on his his face as his little hummingbird wings flap in the background. WIPE TO: EXT. QUEEN’S SHIP – DESERT – DAY A couple of Naboo security guards mill around the ramp of the ship in a very quick establishing shot. INSIDE THE SHIP – COCKPIT OBI-WAN is talking to QUI-GON over a comlink. QUI-GON: (V.O.) …and you’re sure there’s nothing left on board. OBI-WAN: A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, maybe. But, not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amount you're talking about. EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - ALCOVE - DAY QUI-GON is talking on his com-link. QUI-GON: All right. I’m sure another solution will present itself. I'll check back later. QUI-GON puts his comlink away and starts out into the main street. JAR JAR grabs his arm. JAR JAR: (Subtitled) Look, I told you… If I don’t eat something soon I’ll go crazy! Can’t we buy some lunch? QUI-GON: Not likely. We have nothing of value, that's our problem. EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - MARKET - DAY QUI-GON, PADME, JAR JAR, and ARTOO move out into the street. JAR JAR is walking behind the others. They walk by an outdoor cafe filled with a rough gang of aliens, one of which is especially ugly, SEBULBA, a spider-like creature. JAR JAR stops for a moment in front of a stall selling dead frogs hanging on a wire. He looks around to see if anyone is looking, then sticks out his tongue, and gets hold of one, pulling it into his mouth. The vendor suddenly appears. VENDOR : (subtitled with new, more threatening alien voice) Hey! Money first, Scumbag! JAR JAR opens his mouth in surprise. JAR JAR: (subtitled) Money? Uh... VENDOR: (subtitled, pointing angrily) Theif! Theif! Stop! CUT TO: SEBULBA jumping up from the table, leaping into the air. Cut from him leaping through the frame to him drop-kicking JAR JAR in mid-flight. (No frog flying through air and landing on Sebulba, we assume the frog falls out of JJ’s mouth when he gets kicked and Sebulba picks it up. No JJ trying to walk away whistling.) SEBULBA: (subtitled) Ni Chuba nye? (Plan on paying for this?) QUI-GON, walking away with PADME and ARTOO, notices JAR JAR is missing and looks back. SEBULBA: (cont’d off-screen, subtitled) I’ll show you what we do to theiving swamp hoppers around here… JAR JAR tries to duck from SEBULBA’S fist. Suddenly, ANAKIN SKYWALKER appears. The boy stands up to SEBULBA in a very self-assured way. ANAKIN: (subtitled) Chess ko, Sebulba… (Careful, Sebulba…) SEBULBA stops his assault on JAR JAR and turns to ANAKIN. ANAKIN: (subtitled) Cha porko ootman geesa. (This one's well connected.) Me teesa rodda co pana pee choppa chawa. (I'd hate to see you diced before the big race tomorrow.) SEBULBA: (subtitled) Neek me chowa, wermo. (Good thing you’re not entering this time, Slaveboy.) Mo killee ma klounkee. Una noto wo shag, me wompity du pom pom. (I’d make sure you ended up as a stain on the walls of Beggar’s Canyon.) SEBULBA turns away. ANAKIN: (subtitled) Eh, chee bana do mullee ra. (Yeah? Watto would have you fed to the rancors.) QUI-GON, PADME and ARTOO walk up to where they are. ANAKIN: Hi! QUI-GON: (looking concerned) Hi there. CUT to shot of JAR JAR feeling his neck, then cut to Qui-Gon helping him up. CUT and MUTE ANAKIN’s lines about “a puddle of orange goo” and “picked a fight with a Dug, an especially dangerous Dug, blah blah blah…” JAR JAR: (subtitled) I could’ve taken him if this kid didn’t jump in and try to play the hero. QUI-GON: Nevertheless, the boy is right...you’re heading into trouble. Thanks, my young friend. They start walking down the crowded street, past SEBULBA in the background. JAR JAR: (subtitled) But… But I’m still hungry! EXT. TATOOINE – DESERT – DAY The wind begins to stir along the rippled drifts of the Jundland wastes, carrying veils of gypsum sand from dune to dune. It grows in intensity until we begin to feel a storm is taking shape. A huge cloud of sand and dust billows on the horizon. (taken from documentary sources.) EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - SPACESHIP - DAY OBI-WAN stands in front of the Naboo spacecraft as the gale picks up and begins to whip at his robe. PANAKA joins him. OBI-WAN: This storm will slow them down. WIPE (RIGHT-TO-LEFT) TO: EXT. MOS ESPA – CITY GATES A cloud of dust and sand rushes toward camera over a ridge. (A shot taken from Stargate.) EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - DAY The GROUP follows ANAKIN toward camera as he rushes down the windy street. (Audio inserted from a moment before. Mouths are obscured by bypassers.) ANAKIN: (to QUI-GON) Do you have shelter? QUI-GON: We'll head back to our ship. ANAKIN: Is it far? PADME: It’s on the outskirts. ANAKIN: You'll never reach the outskirts in time...Come on! I’ll take you to my place. EXT. MOS ESPA – CITY WALLS – DAY A giant tidal wave of sand and debris propelled by a gust of wind collides full-force into a cluster of rustic dwellings. EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - STREET - SANDSTORM - DAY The wind and swell of airborne sand are turbulent as QUI-GON, JAR JAR, and PADME follow ANAKIN down the street and into a slave hovel. INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY QUI-GON, JAR JAR, ARTOO, and PADME enter a small living space. ANAKIN: Mom! I'm home. (He should only say “Mom!” once.) (Cut or mute JAR JAR’s stupid “Dissen Cozy” line.) Anakin's mother, SHMI SKYWALKER, a warm, friendly woman of forty, enters from her work area and is startled to see the room full of people. ANAKIN: These are my friends, Mom. (Cut or mute Jar Jar’s “Ehllo!”) QUI-GON: I'm Qui-Gon Jinn. Cut before we see Anakin dragging Padme off into his room. ARTOO lets out a little beep. The wind HOWLS outside. QUI-GON: Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter. Insert close-up of SHMI taken from a later shot of her giving Qui-Gon a knowing smirk. (DELETE C-3PO SCENE. Sorry George, Anakin DID NOT build him!) CLOCK WIPE TO: EXT. MOS ESPA - SANDSTORM – (Altered shot) (Shot is manipulated to appear as though it takes place at night.) The giant sandstorm engulfs the town, and the slave quarters, where drifts of sand begin building up against Anakin's house. INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT QUI-GON, ANAKIN, SHMI, JAR JAR, and PADME are seated around a makeshift table, having dinner as the wind howls outside. Mute the dialogue for the interior establishing shot. ANAKIN: Has anyone ever seen a Podrace? PADME shakes her head no. She notices the concern of SHMI. QUI-GON: They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous. ANAKIN: I'm the only human who can do it. SHMI looks askance at her son. QUI-GON: You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods. ANAKIN smiles, then becomes serious, looking at Qui-Gon. ANAKIN: You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you? There is a long pause. QUI-GON: What makes you think that? ANAKIN: I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon. QUI-GON leans back and slowly smiles. QUI-GON: Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him. ANAKIN: I don't think so... No one can kill a Jedi. Another long pause. QUI-GON: I wish that were so... ANAKIN: Have you come to free us? SHMI: (scoldingly, taken from a later shot.) Anakin… QUI-GON: No, I'm afraid not... QUI-GON thinks for a moment, his eyes briefly flick over to Padme, then he decides to divulge the truth. QUI-GON: We're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission. ANAKIN: How did you end up here in the outer rim? PADME: Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it. ANAKIN: I can help! I can fix anything! QUI-GON: I believe you can, but our first job is to aquire the parts we need... (CUT JAR JAR’s “Wit no-nutten mula to trade.”) PADME: These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind. SHMI: Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races. QUI-GON: Greed can be a powerful ally. ANAKIN: I've built a racer! It's the fastest ever...There's a big race on Boonta Eve (Cut “tomorrow”, switch to a “listening” shot of one of the other characters if necessary as he says this). You could enter my pod. SHMI: Anakin, Watto won't let you... ANAKIN: Watto doesn't know I've built it. (to Qui-Gon) You could make him think it's yours, and get him to let me pilot it for you. QUI-GON looks to SHMI. She is upset. SHMI: I don't want you to race, Annie...It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it. GUI-GON: Your mother's right. PADME: I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We’ll find another way... SHMI: There is no other way… QUI-GON: Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us? SHMI: The Republic doesn’t exist out here. She thinks for a moment, as the others exchange uncomfortable yet hopeful glances. SHMI: (cont’d) I may not like it, but he can help you...he was meant to help you. Closeup of Qui-Gon contemplating. DIAGONAL WIPE TO: EXT. THEED - STREET - NIGHT (FX) SEVERAL FEDERATION DROIDS patrol a deserted city street. The Palace can be seen in the distance. NUTE: (subtitled, O.S.) In my infinite mercy, Governor, I will allow you to send a private report to your wayward queen… INT. NABOO PALACE - THRONE ROOM - THEED - NIGHT NUTE sits in a strange, mechanical walking chair, which approaches SIO BIBBLE. NUTE: (subtitled) Tell her she can submit her people as slaves of my new empire, or continue to hide until they’re all incinerated. It’s her decision. BIBBLE : This invasion will gain you nothing. We're a democracy. The people have decided... NUTE: (subtitled) Then they choose death. BIBBLE is taken away as OOM-9 approaches NUTE. OOM-9 : (subtitled) He is being taken to the holo-chamber now. The signal is being closely monitored to trace the recipient of any transmission he sends. NUTE nods in approval. WIPE TO: EXT. NABOO SPACECRAFT – TATOOINE DESERT – (Altered shot) The storm continues to rage around the Queen’s starship. (This shot is manipulated to appear as though it takes place at night.) INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT – QUEEN’S CHAMBERS AMIDALA, EIRTAE, RABE, and OBI-WAN watch a very bad transmission of a SIO BIBBLE hologram. BIBBLE: The death toll is catastrophic...we must bow to their wishes. You must contact me! AMIDALA looks upset...almost nervous. OBI-WAN: It's a trick. Send no reply... Send no transmission of any kind. INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY QUI-GON listens to his comlink. OBI-WAN is in the cockpit. QUI-GON: It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace. OBI-WAN: What if it is true and the people are dying? QUI-GON: Either way, we're running out of time. WIPE TO: EXT. SPACE – TATOOINE ORBIT - SITH SPACECRAFT The sinister-looking Sith spacecraft screams toward the planet of Tatooine. A huge choral rendition of “General Greivous’ theme” dominates the soundscape and continues… EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT MESA - NIGHT The vulture-like ship lands on top of a desert mesa just before dawn. DARTH MAUL walks to the edge of the mesa and studies the landscape with a pair of electrobinoculars. He picks out the lights of three different cities in the distance, then pushes buttons on his electronic armband. Six football-sized PROBE DROIDS float out of the ship and head off in three different directions toward the cities. DARTH MAUL stands on the mesa and watches them through his electrobinoculars. FADE TO BLACK FADE IN: EXT. MOS ESPA - JUNK DEALER PLAZA - DAY The storm has passed. VENDORS and STREET PEOPLE clean up the mess and rebuild their food stalls. The QUI-GON, PADME, JAR JAR, and ARTOO walk toward WATTO’s shop. PADME stops QUI-GON as he is about to enter. PADME: Are you sure about this? Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know? QUI-GON gives her a “trust me” look, then turns and starts into the shop. (I never liked the idea of the whole Padme “doesn’t approve” all-of-a-sudden subplot. It never went anywhere. And I also want to play it like Qui-Gon already knows she’s the queen from the beginning.) INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY QUI-GON walks in, and WATTO and ANAKIN join him. WATTO: The boy tells me you wanta sponser him insa race. How can you do this? Not on Republic credits, I think. (he laughs) QUI-GON: My ship will be the entry fee. QUI-GON pulls a small object that looks like a watch out of his pocket, and a hologram of the Naboo spacecraft appears about a foot long in front of WATTO. He studies it. WATTO: Not bad...not bad...Nubian, eh? QUI-GON: It's in good order, except for the parts we need. WATTO: ...but what would the boy ride? He smashed up my Pod in the last race. Could take some long time to fix it. ANAKIN is embarrassed and steps forward. ANAKIN: (CUT “it wasn't my fault.. really...”) Sebulba flashed me with his vents. I actually saved the Pod...mostly. WATTO: (laughing) That you did. The boy’s good, no doubts there. QUI-GON: Well, I’ve acquired a Pod in a game of chance. The fastest ever built. WATTO: I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it. (laughs) So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think. QUI-GON: If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need...If we lose, you keep my ship. WATTO thinks about this. ANAKIN tries not to be nervous. QUI-GON: (Cont'd) Either way, you win. WATTO: Deal! WATTO slaps QUI-GON’s hand and the Jedi leaves. WATTO turns to Anakin. WATTO: (subtitled) Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya. (Your friend has no idea what he’s getting into…) WIPE TO: EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - DAY One of Maul's PROBE DROIDS slowly floats down the main street of Tatooine. It looks in shops and studies PEOPLE as it searches for OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, or the QUEEN. EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY RACE CREWS mill about outside the Main Hanger. INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY The hanger is a large building with a dozen or so Podracers being readied for the race. ALIEN CREWS and PILOTS rush about, making last minute fixes on their vehicles. WATTO, QUI-GON, and JAR JAR walk through the activity. WATTO: ...I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over. QUI-GON: Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far away from here. WATTO: Not if your ship belongs to me, I think...I warn you, no funny business. QUI-GON: You don't think Anakin will win? WATTO stops before an orange racer. Sitting to one side, having his shoulders and neck massaged by TWIN YOBANAS, is SEBULBA. WATTO: Don't get me wrongo. I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is going to win, I think. QUI-GON: Why? WATTO: He always wins. (laughs) I'm betting everything on Sebulba! QUI-GON: I'll take that bet. WATTO: (suddenly stops laughing) What??!! QUI-GON: I'll wager my new racing pod against...say...the boy and his mother. WATTO shakes his head. WATTO: No Pod's worth two slaves...not by a long shot...one slave or nothing. QUI-GON: The boy, then... WATTO pulls out a small cube from his pocket. WATTO: We'll let fate decide. Blue it's the boy, red his mother... WATTO tosses the cube down. (CUT: QUI-GON lifting his hand slightly; we don’t want him to cheat, he’d simply trust the Force.) The cube lands on blue. QUI-GON smiles. WATTO is angry. (CUT: All of JAR JAR’s annoying and cartoony closeups!) WATTO: (Cont'd) You won this small toss, outlander, but you won't win the race, so...it makes little difference. Closeup of QUI-GON looking over his shoulder as Watto flitters away should be reduced to half-speed. Music Rises… WIPE TO: EXT. MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY An EXTREME HIGH WIDE ANGLE reveals a vast arena in the Tatooine desert. A large semi-circular amphitheatre that holds at least a hundred thousand people dominates the landscape. Large viewing platforms loom over the racetrack. (POD RACE HAPPENS. CUT SIMILAR TO MAGFAN’S EDIT.) (ANAKIN WINS, OF COURSE.) INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - PRIVATE BOX - DAY Several ALIENS leave Watto's box, laughing and counting their money. WATTO sees QUI-GON standing in the doorway. WATTO: You! You swindled me! You knew the boy was going to win! Somehow you knew it! I lost everything. WATTO flies up to QUI-GON and puts his face right up against QUI-GON's. QUI-GON simply smiles. QUI-GON: Whenever you gamble, my freind, eventually you'll lose. Bring the parts to the main hanger. I'll come by your shop later so you can release the boy. WATTO: You can't have him! It wasn't a fair bet! QUI-GON: Would you like to discuss it with the Hutts...I'm sure they can settle this. WATTO: (looking resigned) Take him! WIPE TO: EXT. SLAVE HOVEL – DAY QUI-GON stands on the front steps of Anakin and Shmi’s hovel. He is talking to Obi-Wan on the comlink. QUI-GON: Get this hyperdrive generator installed. (pauses for a beat, concerned) Be wary… I sense a disturbance in the Force. OBI-WAN: (o.s., filtered) Yes, Master. QUI-GON clicks the comlink off and puts it away. SHMI walks outside through the hovel door to meet him on the steps. She smiles at him. QUI-GON: You should be very proud of your son. SHMI: He uh… QUI-GON: He has special powers. SHMI: (nodding) Yes… QUI-GON: He can see things before they happen. That’s why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It’s a Jedi trait. Had he been born in the Republic, we would’ve identified him early. The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear. Who was his father? SHMI: There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can’t explain what happened. QUI-GON looks at her. He is both stunned and intrigued. She gazes back at him with a look of embarrassed but truthful confidence. WIPE TO: EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT MESA - DAY A PROBE DROID flies up to DARTH MAUL and begins to chatter a short message. The SITH LORD gets on a speeder bike and follows the PROBE DROID into the desert. WIPE TO: EXT. SLAVE HOVEL – DAY ANAKIN and SHMI kneel in the street in a goodbye embrace as QUI-GON looks on, waiting patiently. SHMI kisses her son and looks into his eyes. ANAKIN: Will I ever see you again? She stares at him, swallowing the lump in her throat, trying not to cry. SHMI: What does your heart tell you? ANAKIN thinks for a moment. He’s unsure about her fate. ANAKIN: I hope so… She smiles at him sadly and wipes his tears away with her hand. SHMI: Now… Be brave, and don’t look back… Don’t look back. As she rises, the music also rises into a stirring rendition of “The Force Theme”. She turns him around and gives him a nudge in QUI-GON’s direction. She watches them start out, embracing herself now. Visibly crushed and alone, yet hopeful for her son’s future. Subtle echoes of “Vader’s Theme” punctuate the start of Anakin’s new journey. EXT. MOS ESPA STREET – DAY ANAKIN runs to join QUI-GON, who has already started down the street. As they walk along together, QUI-GON notices something out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly, without breaking his stride, he ignites his laser sword, swings around, and lunges forward and cuts a lurking PROBE DROID in half. QUI-GON inspects the sparking and fizzing DROID. ANAKIN: What is it? QUI-GON: Probe droid. Very unusual... not like anything I've seen before. Come on. QUI-GON and ANAKIN start running. WIPE TO: EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY QUI-GON and ANAKIN run toward the Naboo spacecraft. ANAKIN is having a hard time keeping up. ANAKIN: Qui-Gon,sir, wait! I’m tired! QUI-GON turns to answer and sees a DARK-CLOAKED FIGURE bearing down on a speeder bike. QUI-GON: Anakin, drop! ANAKIN drops to the ground just as DARTH MAUL sweeps over him. DARTH MAUL jumps off his speeder bike, and before he has hit the ground, the Sith Lord has swund a death blow with his laser sword that is barely blocked by QUI-GON. ANAKIN picks himself up. The two galactic warriors, Sith and Jedi, are bashing each other with incredible blows. They move in a continual cloud of dust. This is a fierce fight. ANAKIN gets up, bewildered by the confrontation. QUI-GON: Go! Tell ‘em to take off! QUI-GON struggles to fend off the relentless onslaught as ANAKIN races to the ship. INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT CAPTAIN PANAKA, ANAKIN, and PADME rush into the cockpit where OBI-WAN and RIC OLIE are checking the hyperdrive. CAPT. PANAKA : Qui-Gon’s in trouble! OBI-WAN: Take off. (pointing) Over there. Fly low. In the distance is a small cloud of dust. EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY QUI-GON and DARTH MAUL continue their sword battle. Leaping over one another in an incredible display of acrobatics, the two warrios hear the ship fly over them a few feet off the ground. QUI-GON almost dissapears for a moment. Before DARTH MAUL knows what's happening, QUI-GON is on the spacecraft's ramp, ducking into the ship. EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - DAY The ramp closes, and the Naboo craft rockets away, leaving the Sith Lord standing alone. INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - HALLWAY ANAKIN and OBI-WAN rush into the hallway to find QUI-GON collapsed on the floor opposite the entry. ARTOO is looking over him. The JEDI is breathing hard, wet with sweat and covered in dirt. ANAKIN: Are you all right? QUI-GON: I think so… OBI-WAN: What was it? QUI-GON: I’m not sure... but it was well trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is it was after the Queen... ANAKIN: What are we gonna do about it? OBI-WAN gives ANAKIN a "who are you?" look. ANAKIN returns an innocent stare. QUI-GON: We should be patient. Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi. ANAKIN: Pleased to meet you. OBI-WAN nods politely but gives the boy a skeptical look. QUI-GON is amused. EXT. SPACE - NABOO SPACECRAFT (FX) The sleek spacecraft rockets away from the planet Tatooine. WIPE TO : INT. NEIMOIDIAN COMMAND SHIP – CONFERENCE ROOM NUTE GUNRAY and RUNE HAAKO sit at a conference table speaking to a hologram of DARTH MAUL. MAUL: …they are now undoubtedly on their way to Coruscant. NUTE: (subtitled) I am surprised by your failure, Lord Greivous, that is not your reputation. But it needn’t concern you any longer. Your master wants you here at Naboo, with us. He has chosen to deal with the Queen personally when she arrives at Coruscant. MAUL: Understood. The hologram flickers off. RUNE turns to the Viceroy. RUNE: The Sith are coming here? NUTE: Master Sidious has promised us an empire. RUNE: You’re getting in too deep. Bargaining with those demons is suicide. Death has always surrounded them. They feed off men’s souls. NUTE: You have nothing to fear, Haako. I’m in complete control. Besides, your soul already belongs to me. WIPE TO: INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - MAIN AREA The ship is asleep. The lights are dim as PADME walks into the main room. She goes to a monitor and watches the BIBBLE plea recording. JAR JAR is stretched out on the table, snoring. ARTOO is to one side, cooing as he rests. PADME appears tired. She senses someone watching her and turns around with a start. She sees ANAKIN sitting in the corner, shivering and looking very dejected. She goes over to him. He looks up at her while holding his arms to keep himself warm. PADME: Are you all right? ANAKIN: It's very cold. PADME gets a blanket and gives it to him. PADME: You're from a warm planet, Annie. Too warm for my taste. Space is cold. ANAKIN: You seem sad. PADME: The Queen is...worried. Her people are suffering. (CUT: “Dying”.) She must convince the Senate to intervene, or...I'm not sure what will happen. ANAKIN: (he pulls something from his pocket) I made this for you. So you'd remember me. (CUT: Japor snippet and “it will bring you good fortune”.) ANAKIN hands a wooden pendant to PADME. She inspects it. PADME: It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you by. ANAKIN smirks. PADME: (cont’d) Many things will change when we reach the capital, Annie, but my caring for you will remain. The boy looks up at her, unable to speak. EXT. SPACE - PLANET CORUSCANT (FX) MOVE with the ship as it heads toward Coruscant. INT. CORUSCANT - CITYSCAPE - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX) The spacecraft flies over the endless cityscape of Coruscant, the capital of the galaxy. EXT. CORUSCANT - SENATE LANDING PLATFORM - DAY SENATOR PALPATINE waits on a landing platform as Chancellor VALORUM and several GUARDS walk over to join him. The Naboo spacecraft lands on the platform high above the street level of the galactic capital. The ramp lowers. OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, JAR JAR and ANAKIN descend the ramp first and bow before PALPATINE and VALORUM. CAPTAIN PANAKA, TWO GUARDS, QUEEN AMIDALA, then PADME, RABE, EIRTAE, and MORE GUARDS descend the ramp. QUEEN AMIDALA stops before the group. ANAKIN and JAR JAR stand to one side, looking at the huge city. PADME smiles at ANAKIN. PALPATINE bows before the Queen. PALPATINE: It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty. With the communications breakdown we’ve been very concerned. I’m anxious to hear your report on the situation. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum. VALORUM : Welcome, Your Highness. It is an honor to finally meet you in person. I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the current situation. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your position. AMIDALA: I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor. PALPATINE starts to lead QUEEN AMIDALA and her RETINUE off the platform toward a waiting air taxi. PALPATINE: There is a question of procedure, but I feel confident we can overcome it... VALORUM and the JEDI watch the group move off. QUI-GON: (to Valorum) I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately, Your Honor. The situation has become much more complicated. JAR JAR and ANAKIN start to follow, then stop, noticing that OBI-WAN and QUI-GON are staying with the SUPREME CHANCELLOR. QUEEN AMIDALA waves to the duo to follow her. ANAKIN looks back to QUI-GON, and he nods to go ahead. ANAKIN and JAR JAR join the QUEEN, PALPATINE, PADME, RABE and EIRTAE in the taxi. JAR JAR leans over to ANAKIN. JAR JAR: I think that handmaiden girl likes you. She’s pretty hot. The taxi departs from the platform and flies through the cityscape… Ending up at a senatorial housing complex adjacent to the senate building. INT. PALPATINE'S QUARTERS - LIVING AREA - DAY PALPATINE is pacing as CAPTAIN PANAKA enters. EIRTAE and RABE stand to one side. PALPATINE: There is no civility, only politics......the Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good. I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion. AMIDALA: Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope. PALPATINE: If I may say so, Your Majesty, the Chancellor has little real power...he is mired by baseless accusations of corruption. The bureaucrats are in charge now. AMIDALA: What options have we? PALPATINE: Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who could control the bureaucrats, and give us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum. AMIDALA: He has been our strongest supporter. PALPATINE: Our only other choice would be to submit a plea to the courts... AMIDALA: The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate. Our people are dying, Senator. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation. PALPATINE: To be realistic, Your Majesty, I think we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being. AMIDALA: That is something I cannot do. WIPE TO: EXT. CORUSCANT - GALACTIC SENATE BUILDING - DAY (FX) A large, distinctive looking domed building stands out amid the cityscape of Coruscant. INT. MAIN ROTUNDA - GALACTIC SENATE - DAY The Senate chambers are huge. Thousands of SENATORS and their AIDES sit in the circular assembly area. CHANCELLOR VALORUM sits in an elevated area in the center. Hundreds of AIDES and DROIDS hurry about. SENATOR PALPATINE, QUEEN AMIDALA, EIRTAE, RABE, and CAPTAIN PANAKA sit in the Naboo congressional box, which is actually a floating platform. VALORUM : The Chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo. The Naboo congressional box floats into the center. PALPATINE: Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate. A tragedy has occurred (CUT: the “taxation of trade routes” line) and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation. A second box rushes into the center of the Senate. It is filled with Federation trade barons led by LOTT DOD, the Senator for the Federation. LOTT DOD : (subtitled) This is outrageous! I object to the Senator's statements! VALORUM : The Chair does not recognize the Senator from the Trade Federation at this time. LOTT DOD reluctantly moves back to his place. PALPATINE: To state our allegations, I present Queen Amidala, (CUT: “newly elected”) ruler of the Naboo, to speak on our behalf. QUEEN AMIDALA stands and addresses the assembly. There is some applause. AMIDALA: Honorable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. The Naboo system has been invaded by the Droid Armies of the Trade... LOTT DOD : (subtitled) I object! There is no proof. This is incredible. We recommend a commision be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth. A third box representing Malastare moves into the center of the room. AKS MOE, the Ambassador, addresses the convention. AKS MOE : (adding the Malastarian voice from AOTC, subtitled) The Congress of Malastare concurs with the honorable delegate from the Trade Federation. A commision must be appointed...that is the law. VALORUM : The point... VALORUM confers with several of his AIDES and VICE CHAIRMAN MAS AMEDDA. PALPATINE whispers something to the QUEEN. PALPATINE: Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add. This is where Chancellor Valorum's strength will dissapear. VALORUM : The point is conceded... Will you defer your motion to allow a commission to explore the validity of your accusations? QUEEN AMIDALA is angry but remains composed. AMIDALA: (angrily) I will not defer...I have come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now. I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee. If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed. I move for a "vote of no confidence"...in Chancellor Valorum's leadership. This causes a great stir in the assembly. A loud mumur cresendos into a roar of approval and jeers. CHANCELLOR VALORUM is stunned and stands speechless. His Vice Chair, MAS AMEDDA, takes over. MAS AMEDDA: Order! We shall have order... The assembly begins to chant. VALORUM talks to MAS AMEDDA. ASSEMBLY: Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! PALPATINE stands next to AMIDALA. PALPATINE: Now they will elect a new Chancellor, a strong Chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy continue... EXT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - DAY (FX) A unique building with its tall spires stands out against the Coruscant skyline. A small transport passes by the vast temple. INT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - DAY QUI-GON stands in a tall, stately room. Twelve JEDI sit in a semi-circle. OBI-WAN stands behind QUI-GON in the center of the room. The Senior Jedi is MACE WINDU. To his left is an alien Jedi named KI-ADI-MUNDI, and to his right, the Jedi Master, YODA. QUI-GON: ...my only conclusion can be that it was a Sith Lord. KI-ADI : Impossible! The Sith have been extinct for a millenium. MACE WINDU : I do not believe they could have returned without us knowing. YODA : Ah, hard to see, the dark side is. MACE WINDU : We will use all our resources here to unravel this mystery and discover the identity of your attacker... May the Force be with you. OBI-WAN turns to leave, but QUI-GON continues to face the Council. YODA : Master Qui-Gon more to say have you? QUI-GON: With your permission, my Master. I have encountered a vergence in the Force. YODA : A vergence, you say? MACE WINDU : Located around a person? QUI-GON: A boy... MACE WINDU : You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force...you believe it's this boy?? QUI-GON: I request the boy be tested, Master. Finding him was the will of the Force...I have no doubt of that. (cutting out all of Yoda’s dick-ishness.) The JEDI all look to one another. They nod and turn back to OBI-WAN and QUI-GON. MACE WINDU : Bring him before us, then. MACE flashes an uncomfortable glance at YODA as QUI-GON and OBI-WAN leave. CLOCK WIPE TO: EXT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - BALCONY - SUNSET OBI-WAN and QUI-GON stand outside the temple on a balcony. OBI-WAN: The boy will not pass the Council's tests, Master. He is far too old. QUI-GON: Anakin will become a Jedi... OBI-WAN: Don't defy the Council, Master..not again. QUI-GON: I will do what I must, Obi-Wan. OBI-WAN: If you would just follow the code, you would be on the Council. They will not go along with you this time. QUI-GON: You still have much to learn, my young apprentice. INT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - SUNSET ANAKIN stands before the TWELVE JEDI. MACE WINDU holds a small hand-held viewing screen. In rapid succession, images flash across the screen. ANAKIN: A ship...a cup...a speeder. MACE WINDU turns the viewing screen off and nods toward YODA. YODA : How feel you? ANAKIN: Cold, sir. YODA : Afraid are you? ANAKIN: No, sir. YODA : See through you, we can. MACE WINDU : Be mindful of your feelings... KI-ADI : Your thoughts dwell on your mother. ANAKIN: I miss her. YODA : Afraid to lose her..I think. ANAKIN: (a little angry) What's that got to do with anything? YODA : Eveything. Fear is the path to the dark side... fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate.. hate leads to suffering. ANAKIN studies the little green Jedi Master. YODA : I sense much fear in you. EXT. CORUSCANT CITYSCAPE – DUSK The sun slowly fades beneath the endless city skyline and the individual artificial lights of building windows begin to flicker on. It is a brief moment of picturesque beauty. INT. PALPATINES QUARTERS - DUSK QUEEN AMIDALA is standing, staring out the window, with JAR JAR. The lights of the city shimmer before them. EIRTAE and SABE stand near the door. JAR JAR turns to face the QUEEN and sees her sadness. JAR JAR: When do they eat in this place? AMIDALA: I don't know. JAR JAR: Think they’ll serve us some of those good mud-slugs from home? AMIDALA: I hope not. JAR JAR: You know, even though we’re from the same place, we don’t have much in common, do we? I guess if our people weren’t so busy fighting each other, we could’ve been ready for the invaders and driven them out by now. PALPATINE and CAPTAIN PANAKA rush into the room and bow before the QUEEN. CAPT. PANAKA : Your Highness, Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed Valorum as Supreme Chancellor. PALPATINE: A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. Your Majesty, if I am elected, I will put an end to corruption. AMIDALA: Who else has been nominated? CAPT. PANAKA : Alderaan and Malastare. PALPATINE: I feel confident...our "situation" will create a strong sympaphy vote for us... I will be Chancellor. AMIDALA: I fear by the time you have control of the bureaucrats, Senator, there will be nothing left of our people, our way of life... PALPATINE: I understand your concern, Your Majesty; unfortunately, the Federation now has possession of our planet. AMIDALA: Senator, this is your arena. I feel I must return to mine. I have decided to go back to Naboo. My place is with my people. PALPATINE: Go back!! But, Your Majesty, be realistic! They will force you to sign the treaty. AMIDALA: I will sign no treaty, Senator. My fate will be no different from that of our people. Captain! CAPT. PANAKA : Yes, Your Highness? AMIDALA: Ready my ship! CAPT. PANAKA : Please, Your Majesty, stay here...where it's safe. AMIDALA: It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions. I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate. AMIDALA and her RETINUE exit the room. PALPATINE has a self-satisfied smile on his face. WIPE TO: INT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - TWILIGHT ANAKIN, OBI-WAN, and QUI-GON stand before the TWELVE MEMBERS OF THE JEDI COUNCIL. KI-ADI : The Force is strong with him. QUI-GON: He's to be trained, then. The COUNCIL MEMBERS look to one another. MACE WINDU : No. He will not be trained. ANAKIN is crestfallen; tears begin to form in his eyes. QUI-GON: No??!! MACE WINDU : He is too old. QUI-GON: He is the chosen one...you must see it. YODA : Clouded, this boy's future is. QUI-GON: I will trin him, then. I take Anakin as my Padawan learner. OBI-WAN reacts with surprise. ANAKIN watches with interest. YODA : An apprentice, you have, Qui-Gon. Impossible, to take on a second. MACE WINDU : The code forbids it. QUI-GON: Obi-Wan is ready... OBI-WAN: I am ready to face the trials. YODA : Our own council we will keep on who is ready. QUI-GON: He is headstrong....and he has much to learn about the living Force, but he is capabe. There is little more he can learn from me. MACE WINDU : Now is not the time for this...the Senate is voting for a new Supreme Chancellor and Queen Amidala is returning home, which will put pressure on the Federation, and could widen the confrontation. KI-ADI : And draw out the Queen's attacker. MACE WINDU : Go with the Queen to Naboo and discover the identity of this dark warrior. This is the clue we need to unravel the mystery of the Sith. YODA : Young Skywalker's fate will be decided later. May the Force be with you. OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, and ANAKIN leave. EXT. CORUSCANT - SENATE LANDING PLATFORM - NIGHT QUI-GON, OBI-WAN, and ANAKIN stand on the landing platform outside the ship. The wind whips at ANAKIN as he listens to the JEDI. OBI-WAN: It is not disrespect, Master, it is the truth. QUI-GON: From your point of view.... OBI-WAN: The boy is dangerous...they all sense it. Why can't you? QUI-GON: His fate is uncertain, he’s not dangerous. The Council will decide Anakin's future...that should be enough for you. Now get on board. OBI-WAN reluctantly boards the Naboo spacecraft followed by ARTOO. QUI-GON goes over to ANAKIN. ANAKIN: Qui-Gon, sir, I don’t wanna be a problem. QUI-GON: You won't be, Annie....I'm not allowed to train you, so I want you to watch me and be mindful... always remember, your focus determines your reality. Stay close to me and you’ll be safe… you will. A taxi pulls up and the QUEEN and her ENTOURAGE exit onto the platform, walking briskly toward the Naboo cruiser. AMIDALA and her HANDMAIDENS stop before the JEDI. QUI-GON: (Cont'd) Your Highness, it is our pleasure to continue to serve and protect you. AMIDALA: I welcome your help. Senator Palpatine fears the Federation means to destroy me. QUI-GON: I promise you, I will not let that happen. AMIDALA enters the ship, followed by her HANDMAIDENS. JAR JAR throws his arms up in the air. JAR JAR: Mud-slugs, here I come!!! ANAKIN: Come on, Artoo… They ALL move onto the ship. The ship takes off. EXT. THE PLANET CORUSCANT The Naboo cruiser rockets away from the planet and slingshots into hyperspace. WIPE TO: INT. SPACE - NABOO SPACECRAFT COCKPIT ANAKIN stands next to the PILOT, RIC OLIE, pointing to various buttons and gauges. ANAKIN: ...and that one? RIC OLIE : The forward stabalizer. ANAKIN: And those control the pitch? RIC OLIE : You catch on pretty quick. INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - QUEEN'S CHAMBERS SABE and EIRTAE stand behind QUEEN AMIDALA as she talks with QUI-GON and CAPTAIN PANAKA. OBI-WAN and JAR JAR watch. CAPT. PANAKA : As soon as we land the Federation will arrest you, and force you to sign the treaty. QUI-GON: I agree...I'm not sure what you wish to accomplish by this. (CUT: “I will take back what is ours.”) CAPT. PANAKA : There are too few of us, Your Highness....we have no army. QUI-GON: And I can only protect you. I can’t fight a war for you. AMIDALA: Jar Jar Binks! JAR JAR looks around, puzzled. JAR JAR: (subtitled) Me, Your Highnessness? AMIDALA: Yes. I’ll need your help. INT. NABOO CRUISER COCKPIT - DAY The Naboo Cruiser heads toward the lush green planet. There is only one Federation battle cruiser orbiting. OBI-WAN and CAPTAIN PANAKA spot it on the view screen. RIC OLIE : I have one battleship on my scope. OBI-WAN: A droid control ship. PANAKA : They've probably spotted us. OBI-WAN: We haven't much time. WIPE TO: EXT. NABOO SWAMP LAKE - DAY JAR JAR exits the swamp lake and walks over to QUEEN AMIDALA, CAPTAIN PANAKA, OBI-WAN, and QUI-GON. PADME, EIRTAE, RABE, ANAKIN, and ARTOO, FOUR PILOTS, and EIGHT GUARDS stand in the background near the starship. JAR JAR: It’s deserted! All the Gungans are gone. OBI-WAN: Do you think they have been taken to camps? PANAKA : More than likely they were wiped out. JAR JAR: I don’t think so. QUI-GON: Do you know where they are? JAR JAR: With all the Naboo gone, they probably took back our old marshlands. Come on, let’s go see… Follow me. The GROUP follows JAR JAR as he moves through the swamp. WIPE TO: EXT. NABOO SACRED TEMPLE RUINS - DAY JAR JAR, QUEEN AMIDALA, ANAKIN, ARTOO, QUI-GON, OBI-WAN, PADME, RABE, EIRTAE, and the rest of her group are led through a clearing full of GUNGANS. At the far end are the ruins of a grand temple with massive carved heads. BOSS NASS and several other COUNCIL MEMBERS walk out on the top of a three-quarter- submerged head. TARPALS : These intruders surrendered to us in the swamp. JAR JAR: It’s me again, Boss Nass, uh… Your Honor. BOSS NASS : (subtitled) Jar-Jar Binks! Who have you brought for our amusement this time? QUEEN AMIDALA steps forward. CAPTAIN PANAKA and the JEDI stand behind her. AMIDALA: I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo...I come before you in peace. BOSS NASS : Peace? What does your kind know of peace? You drive us from our lands, steal our most sacred artifacts… And now your foolishness has brought this mechanical terror upon us all! CAPTAIN PANAKA and HALF A DOZEN GUARDS and PILOTS look around nervously, and the GUNGAN TROOPS lower their long power poles. The JEDI stay relaxed. ANAKIN watches everything with great interest. AMIDALA: We have searched you out because we wish to form an alliance... Suddenly, PADME steps forward. PADME: Your Honor... ARTOO whistles a quiet "uh oh." BOSS NASS : (subtitled) Who’s this now? PADME: I am Queen Amidala (points to Queen) This is my loyal bodyguard. (cut out the other synonyms.) ANAKIN is stunned. OBI-WAN and QUI-GON give each other a knowing look. PADME: (Cont'd) ...I am sorry for my deception, but under the circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, ...I ask you to help us...no, I beg you to help us. PADME drops to her knees and prostrates herself before BOSS NASS. There is a gasp from CAPTAIN PANAKA, HIS TROOPS, and the HANDMAIDENS. PADME: Our fate is in your hands. Slowly, CAPTAIN PANAKA and his TROOPS bow down before the GUNGAN COUNCIL. Then the HANDMAIDENS, ANAKIN, and finally the JEDI. The GUNGANS are puzzled by this. BOSS NASS begins to laugh. BOSS NASS : (subtitled) Well, this is a surprise! The great Naboo humbling themselves before us… Maybe Jar Jar isn’t as foolish as we thought. Get up, we have much to talk about! WIPE TO: EXT. NABOO EDGE OF SWAMP/ GRASS PLAINS - DAY A GUNGAN SENTRY sits on top of the ancient temple head, searching the landscape with a pair of electrobinoculars. He sees something and yells down to ANAKIN at the foot of the statue. GUNGAN LOOKOUT : (subtitled) They’re coming! ANAKIN: All right. They're here! ANAKIN yells and runs over to PADME and the JEDI, who are discussing a battle plan with FIVE GUNGAN GENERALS. SABE and EIRTAE stand nearby. BOSS NASS puts his arm around JAR JAR. BOSS NASS : I underestimated you, Jar-Jar… After today, your name will be written in the sacred scrolls… JAR JAR: Oh, no, no, no... BOSS NASS : “The Gungan who brought the Naboo to their knees!” JAR JAR: No, no… JAR JAR's eyes roll back, his tongue flops out and he faints. FOUR SPEEDERS pull up to the GROUP. CAPTAIN PANAKA and a DOZEN OR SO GUARDS and PILOT pile out and join the group. PADME: What is the situation? CAPT. PANAKA : Almost everyone's in camps. A few hundred police and guards have formed an underground movement. I brought as many of the keaders as I could. The Federation Army's also much larger than we thought, and much stronger. Your Highness, this is a battle I do not think we can win. PADME: The battle is a diversion. The Gungans must draw the Droid Army away from the cities. We can enter the city using the secret passages on the waterfall side. Once we get to the main entrance, Captain Panaka will create a diversion, so that we can enter the palace and capture the Viceroy. Without the Viceroy, they will be lost and confused. QUI-GON and OBI-WAN look on with interest. PADME: (Cont'd) What do you think, Master Jedi? QUI-GON: The Viceroy will be well guarded. CAPT. PANAKA : The difficulty's getting into the throne room. Once we're inside, we shouldn't have a problem. QUI-GON: There is a possibility with this diversion many Gungans will be killed. BOSS NASS : (subtitled) We will fight them to the last. JAR JAR smiles a very worried and sheepish grin. ANAKIN watches with interest, as does ARTOO. PADME: We have a plan which should immobilize the Droid Army. We will send what pilots we have to knock out the Droid control ship which is orbiting the planet. QUI-GON: A well-conceived plan. However, there's great risk. The weapons on your fighters may not penetrate the shields on the control ship. OBI-WAN: And there's an even bigger danger. If the Vicroy escapes, Your Highness, he will return with another droid army. PADME: That is why we must not fail to get to the Viceroy. Everything depends on it. ... MORE LATER