StarDestroyer.Net BBS

I was watching TPM a little while ago and I got to thinking about everything I found weak about it and all the complaints people have about the plot. Anyway, I found a script and decided I'd do a rewrite. Some things you will find have been left relatively untouched, others are completely different. Hopefully those of you who hated the movie will find this at least a little better and those of you who loved the movie will not take offence. If the feedback is positive I'll try to rewrite AOTC to fit with this plot...


Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Rewrite

Mark Shantz



A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...


Starfield, opening scrawl:

The Galactic Republic is in turmoil. A highly organized and daring fleet of Marauders, attacking planets at random, sews fear in their wake. Fighting to protect their own interests, the greedy and corrupt members of the Galactic Senate have spread the forces of the Republic Navy thinly across the galaxy.

Meanwhile, two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, have been dispatched to the aid of Queen Amidala of Naboo, to mediate a dispute between the planet’s inhabitants. Little do they know, they find themselves on the Marauders’ next target.


Ext. Starfield: The camera pans past the lower hull of an immense starship. When it finally reaches the rear engines, the camera turns to reveal an entire fleet of ships waiting in perfect formation (the Marauder fleet).

Cut to: Int. Command Ship, bridge. A thin man in his mid thirties (Captain Tarkin), with a gaunt face and keen, calculating eyes, stands before the hologram of a cloaked figure (Darth Sidious). One arm is folded across his chest while the other rests on it and holds his sharp chin. In the background, crew members prepare their ship for the coming engagement.

Tarkin: My fleet is in position and ready, Lord Sidious.

Sidious: Excellent, Captain Tarkin. Your rewards will be great.

Tarkin: This droid army of yours had better work. I do not have the manpower to hold and entire planet if they were to fail. No one has fielded an entire army of droids since the battle of Tharsis, and for good reason. If this were to drag out...

Sidious: They will not fail. Hold your position and await the signal from my apprentice, Darth Maul. Do not strike until he has made contact.

Tarkin bows slightly before the hologram winks out.

Cut to: Int, Sith Infiltrator. The room is dark, with only a single column of dim light illuminating the back of a cloaked and hooded figure sitting on the floor in meditation. The camera closes in on the back of the figure’s head and begins to circle to the left. It travels around the figure’s head to stop on a shadowy face. The face is jet black, tattooed elaborately in red, its eyes closed and its mouth in a scowl (Darth Maul). After a beat, the eyes open.

Maul: At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have our revenge.

Fade out.

Fade in: Ext, day, aerial view of the Naboo capital city of Theed. The opulent royal palace stands out in the centre of it all.

Cut to: Int, day, Royal Palace of Naboo, Audience Chamber. At the head of the room Queen Amidala sits on her throne. Behind her, three handmaidens, that look eerily similar to her, stand at quiet attention. Arranged in a semi-circle before the throne sit Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sio Bibble the Governor of Naboo, and the Ambassador of the Gungan people, Jar-Jar Binks. To the side of the group, the Queen’s head of security, Captain Panaka stands with the Ambassador’s personal guard of three Gungan warriors. Royal guards line both sides of the room at regular intervals. Standing in the centre of the group is the holographic image of Palpatine, the Senator for Naboo in the Galactic Republic.

Senator Palpatine is a man in middle age, dressed in the finest fashion of the Republic capital.

Palpatine: There has been no further news, Your Majesty, since the recent attack on the Mercer system. And I’m terribly sorry but it appears that Naboo will get no support from the Galactic Navy. We are apparently too far from the core systems and just not important enough.

At fifteen years old, Queen Amidala is the youngest ruler of the Naboo. She is immaculately dressed and made up to the point where her features are almost obscured.

Amidala: I see, Senator Palpatine. That is unfortunate. *Her voice has the even calm that seems to come with royalty.*

The Queen turns her head slightly to address Ambassador Binks.

Amidala: You see, Ambassador, your people must stop these senseless attacks on the Naboo. There are greater problems at hand.

The Gungans are a tall people, as at home in the water as they are on land. Their necks are long and end in heads with duck-like bills and two eye stalks. Their large, fin-like ears hang down their backs and flop freely when their heads turn.

Jar-Jar is dressed in the traditional robes of his people, long and flowing browns and greens with fanciful designs sewn down the hems. His ears are pulled back and held together with a gold clasp.

Jar-Jar: I think not, Queen Amidala. These matters are your concern, not ours. Gungan people care nothing for off-world affairs. You should know that by now. We are of this world, we need nothing else. What we are concerned with is your people’s constant encroachment.

Close up on the two Jedi Knights as the old argument starts up yet again. Qui-Gon Jinn is the older of the two. A seasoned Jedi of late middle age with a full beard and long, flowing hair, he is calm and centered at all times. Obi-Wan is still a young man, one of the most talented of the Jedi order. He is reckless and self-assured, much to the chagrin of his fellows. Unfortunately, his confidence is fuelled by the fact that he usually comes out on top.

Qui-Gon leans in to whisper to his companion.

Qui-Gon: The Gungans will not settle this dispute easily. They are too headstrong. The Council was wise to assign YOU to this mission. *There is a hint of good natured ribbing in the man’s voice.*

Obi-Wan smiles at the jibe slightly, not looking at the other man, but quickly falls into concentration, his face serious.

Obi-Wan: Do you sense that? Something...

Qui-Gon: Yes. But is it the Gungans, or something else? We must be cautious, but it would be wise to keep your concentration on the here and now.

Cut to: Int, Day, Royal Palace Entrance Hall. The camera looks down the long expanse of the Entrance Hall toward massive, beautifully decorated double doors. Marble pillars line the length of the hall.

The silence of the hall is broken as one of the doors opens slightly, spilling noonday light through the towering crack. A dark silhouette slips through the opening and proceeds forward. As it gets closer to the camera we see a man dressed completely in black, hands clasped calmly before him, face shrouded in the shadows of a deep hood. He moves with confidence and purpose.

Two guards rush from either side of the hall to confront the intruder.

Guard: Hold it right there!

One black-gloved hand raises and both men drop to the floor. They are not moving as the figure passes. From within the hood we can see the tattooed face of Darth Maul.

In another few steps Maul is confronted by one of the palace Courtiers.

Courtier: What is the meaning of...

Maul raises his hand again and the man is silenced. His eyes are hard and bitter and when he speaks, the command in his hushed voice can not be ignored.

Maul: You will take me to Amidala now.

Courtier: *Trembling* I will take you to Amidala now.

The Courtier turns and leads the way.

Cut to: Int, Day, Royal Palace Audience Chamber. The hologram of Senator Palpatine crackles with static and blinks out.

Amidala: Senator Palpatine?

Captain Panaka steps forward quickly, still holding the communicator he has just been speaking into.

Panaka: Your Majesty. There is a problem. Ships have appeared out of hyperspace. They have jammed all communications.

Obi-Wan: It’s the Pirate Fleet. *He speaks the words with calm certainty.*

Everyone raises to their feet. Panaka moves protectively to the Queen’s side.

Jar-Jar: What is the meaning of this?!

Sio Bibble: Those ‘off-world concerns’ have just become your concerns, Ambassador.

All eyes turn as the main doors at the rear to the room are flung wide. The Jedi have their lightsabres in their hands instantly, aware of the danger before even seeing it.

Standing framed by the doors, the cloaked form of Darth Maul pulls his hood back revealing a head crowned in short horns. He drops the cloak to the floor and pulls an elongated lightsabre handle from his belt. With a sneer of challenge, he extends the sabre handle and ignites not one red, glowing blade, but two, one from each end.

The Palace Guards immediately open fire with their blasters and at the same time, Maul steps forward into the Audience Chamber, twirling his weapon with blinding speed. Each blaster bolt is reflected perfectly back at its sender. The guards are all dead in seconds.

The Handmaidens have surrounded the Queen and Panaka is backing them away to a side door with Sio Bibble. Two of the Gungan Warriors are covering Jar-Jar’s escape as well, as the third charges Maul with his pike.

Qui-Gon: Obi-Wan! Get the Queen out of here! You must protect her!

Obi-Wan looks from the Queen to his partner and back. He is conflicted. He doesn’t want to leave Qui-Gon alone but his instincts tell him that he must go with the Queen.

Obi-Wan: No! We can take him together!

Darth Maul has made short work of the Gungan and now swings his double-bladed lightsabre in an easy arc, sizing up his next opponent. Qui-Gon raises his weapon to a ready position beside his head and locks eyes with Maul.

Qui-Gon: Obi-Wan! Go! Now!

A green lightsabre clashes with red as the two become locked in dizzying, high speed combat. Obi-Wan takes one last look back before hurrying down the side passage after the rest.

Cut to: the group is stopped, staring out a large picture window. Obi-Wan approaches, attaching his lightsabre to his belt and looks out at what is holding their attention. The sky is filled with space craft, some descending into the city, some flying off over into the horizon, other, smaller droid fighters skirting about in packs. As they watch, a squadron of Naboo fighters rockets into the air to confront the invasion and is quickly torn to pieces. On the ground, battledroids are already rounding up the citizens.

Jar-Jar: By the Gods. What have you brought down on us?

Obi-Wan: *To the Queen.* We have to get you out of here.

Panaka: We should be able to find a transport in the Royal Hangers. Getting at it and off the ground will be a different matter all together though.

Obi-Wan looks back quickly in the direction they came.

Obi-Wan: Come. We must keep moving.

Cut to: Int, day, Corridor leading to hangers. Battledroids are pushing a small group of guards back. Blaster fire is exchanged heavily back and forth. The main characters appear at an intersection between the two groups and survey the situation. Obi-Wan motions for the rest to stay back, ignites his lightsabre and waits. Before the first of the advancing droids can be seen, Obi-Wan leaps into the corridor slicing two droids in half. He is now right in the middle of the droid group, spinning and hacking expertly, while the royal guards are still firing. Obi-Wan points a hand at the last two remaining droids and sends them flying down the corridor into a new group that is just turning the corner. The droids fall in a heap and struggle with each other to get up.

Obi-Wan: Quickly now.

The group heads down the hall toward the remains of the small group of guards with Panaka and Kenobi covering the rear. They are now at a tee junction. The droids begin advancing again, their fire being reflected away by the Jedi's weapon.

Panaka: The hanger's this way. *He points down the corridor to the right before renewing his attack on the advancing droids.*

The group only gets a few steps before more droids are rounding a corner in their path. Kenobi takes a second to push a hand in the direction of the new droids and they go flying backwards, buying time for the group to turn and rush in the opposite direction, but not before one of the handmaidens is shot. They turn a corner and find themselves looking over a balcony at the river that runs through the city. Below are a number of watercraft.

The group goes back the way they came and runs once again into the droids. The guards take out a few and Obi-Wan rushes with lightning speed forward to finish the rest. He is half way down the hall toward the tee junction when the battle is over. He is not sweating or out of breath. After a moment of rest, a clattering sound is heard and a large metallic ball rolls into the corridor. It opens to reveal a tri-legged droid with two arms ending in double blaster cannons. A shield goes up around the droid and it immediately starts firing.

Obi-Wan: Destroyers!

The Jedi moves forward, parrying blaster bolts faster than the eye can see. The droid's shields deflect any shots directed at it away harmlessly. The group goes back out to the balcony and looks for a means of escape.

Jar-Jar points down to the watercraft floating below.

Jar-Jar: The Bongos. We can escape to Otoh Gunga. We will be safe with my people.

The Gungans immediately dive down into the water while the humans begin to climb down the creeping vines growing on the side of the building. When the humans reach the bottom, the gungans are already climbing into one of the 'bongos'. Panaka and the remaining guards are looking around nervously as the others, the Queen and the Governor get into separate craft.

Blaster bolts shoot across the sky from the balcony above.

Cut to: Kenobi still fighting hard to parry the shots from the destroyer. He manages a quick look back through the ruined doors to the balcony and quickly turns and runs. The droid follows his Force enhanced retreat with blaster fire but can not score a hit as the man literally runs up and down the walls with his speed. He reaches the blasted doors and dives out and over the balcony, swivelling in the air to deflect one last set of bolts before disappearing over the edge. He lands in the water and crawls onto one of the craft as it is starting to pull away. After Kenobi is inside, the craft submerges under water leaving the destroyer on the balcony to fire a few parting shots and a squad of battledroids assembling at the water’s edge.

Several shots hit the trailing bongo carrying Sio Bibble and the guardsmen. It smokes and floats lifelessly on the surface of the water.

Fade out as battledroids board the captured bongo and three droids mounted on personal weapons platforms swoop down from the sky, plunging straight into the water.

Fad in: Ext, day, underwater. Two Gungan bongos weave their way through massive rock formations followed doggedly by three droid-carrying weapons platforms. The droids fire their twin blaster cannons at the escaping submarines, causing rocky explosions and deadly collapses of the towering pillars. Trails of superheated water tail the angry red bolts and bubble their way to the surface, broken only by the occasional falling bolder or pursuing droid.

Cut to: Int, day, inside first bongo. Gungan guards calmly manoeuver the craft through the underwater obstacle course as Jar Jar looks frantically around from the back seat beside a frightened handmaiden. He is obviously not used to such life and death situations.

Jar Jar: *In Gungan language* They’re gaining! They’re gaining!

Guard driving: *In Gungan, calmly* I know that Sir.

Jar Jar: *In Gungan* Watch out for that rock!

Guard driving: *In Gungan, calmly* I see that Sir.

Guard 2 points to something out the front window.

Guard 2: *In Gungan* Maybe we can get rid of them in the caves.

The two Gungan guards smile knowingly to each other and nod their heads.

Cut to: Ext, day, underwater. The first bongo spirals around a rock pillar, drawing fire from one of the droids before diving hard into the dark opening of a cave. The droid follows while its fellows concentrate their attention on the second bongo.

Cut to: Int., day, inside second bongo: Panaka is driving, Kenobi is in the front passenger seat and the Queen is in the rear with a frightened handmaiden.

Panaka: The Ambassador is running into that series of caves. I’m going to try to follow.

Obi Wan: No. I don’t think that would be a good idea.

Amidala looks out the rear window at their pursuers.

Amidala: You believe we would be safer out here with them, Master Jedi?

Obi Wan: I have a feeling.

Cut to: Ext, day, underwater. The second bongo jukes from side to side and then barrel rolls to avoid blaster fire.

Cut to: Point of view of Droid 1 behind the second bongo, narrowly missing with blaster fire. Droid 2 is in the background to the far left banking away from the cave entrance.

Cut to: Droid 2 circling around for an attack run. The second bongo is in the background trying to evade Droid 1. Droid 2 closes the gap, firing a steady stream but the bongo twists out of the way causing Droid 2's blasts to hit the base of a large rock pillar. The pillar collapses on both droids and the bongo. Each of the three flees in a different direction.

Cut to: Int, day, cave. The first bongo whips across the screen and banks hard around a craggily corner followed swiftly by the Droid.

Cut to: Int, day inside bongo, camera view through the front window. Blaster cannon fire flashes all around the bongo causing the rock walls of the cave tunnel to splinter and collapse. The bongo rocks back and forth to avoid hitting any of the falling obstacles.

Cut to: Int, day, cave, point of view of the Droid. The Droid continues to follow the bongo firing none-stop until the camera view is obscured by bubbles.

Cut to: Int, day, cave. The bongo turns a corner and quickly turns again, avoiding a dark alcove. The Droid follows, blasting the cave around it. The camera remains on the alcove as rocks crumble down from the walls and ceiling. A luminescent pattern flares up in the darkness of the alcove and a giant, eel-like creature rushes angrily forward. The creature has a long snout bristling with dagger-like teeth. Two rows of incandescent spots run down the creature’s head and long, undulating body.

Cut to: Int, day, cave. Close up of Droid’s face as it turns to see the creature clap its jaws down, inches from the Droid’s back. The Droid does a quick double-take and bobs out of the camera shot.

Cut to: Int, day, first bongo. Jar Jar is looking out rear window.

Jar Jar: *Mournfully* Ooooh!

Both guards roll their eyes.

Cut to: Ext, day, underwater. The second bongo makes a turn around an embankment and into a field of reeds and seaweed, cutting a swath in them as it goes. The two droids follow closely behind, one rushing into the reeds itself, the other rising up above them. The bongo climbs sharply out of the reeds, nearly ramming the Droid 1 above it. It then continues the arc, finishing upside down and going the opposite direction. Droid 2, in the reeds, comes up right behind the bongo, also on a collision course with Droid 1.

Cut to: Int, day, second bongo. Kenobi looks out the window at the pursuing droids and motions with his hand.

Cut to: Ext, day underwater. As the two droids that are about to pass each other, inexplicably Droid 2 jolts over to hit Droid 1. Both droids spiral out of control. Droid 1 rights itself and turns to continue the chase. Droid 2 runs straight into a massive rock outcropping.

Cut to: Int, day, second bongo.

Panaka: The other one’s coming around for another pass.

Obi Wan: *Pointing out window* Make for that cave now.

Cut to: Ext, day, underwater. The second bongo dives swiftly for the darkened cave opening amid a hail of blaster fire. It veers to the side at the last second leaving the droid in the path of the first bongo as it bursts from the darkness.

Cut to: Int, day, first bongo. Point of view of the driver as the droid bounces off the vehicle’s hood.

Cut to: Int, day, first bongo. Jar Jar looks shocked and startled at the collision.

Cut to: Ext, day, underwater. A very confused droid becomes even more so as its comrade rushes past it, causing it to spin in place. Chasing immediately after the passing droid, the cave creature snaps down on Droid 1, crushing it without slowing.

Cut to: Ext, day, underwater. Wide shot of the remaining droid distracted by the cave creature as the two bongos get away.

Fade out.

Fade in: Ext, day, underwater. The two bongos glide through the water and come to a halt. The camera pans, stopping behind the bongos to reveal Otoh Gunga. The city stretches off into the distance, made up of a series of gigantic, artificial bubbles suspended in the water. Tubes span from one bubble to the next, connecting the different sections of the city. The bubbles shine with a strange pearl iridescence.

Unfortunately, it is already a city under siege. Droids can be seen whizzing around the structures, lashing out with blaster fire. Through the bubbles, tiny streaks of red light mark further battle. As the two bongos watch from a distance, one of the city bubbles explodes sending a shockwave through the water and a massive air bubble rushing to the surface.

Cut to: Int, day, bongo one. Jar Jar and his guards sit with wide eyes and jaws open.

Jar Jar: What have they done? What they brought on us?

Cut to: Int, day, bongo two. The Queen sits stone-faced beside a frightened handmaiden. Obi Wan is calm and Panaka looks annoyed.

Jar Jar: *Through the comm.* What have you brought down on us, Amidala?! This is your war, not ours!

Obi Wan: We don’t have time for this, Ambassador. Is there anywhere we can go? Anywhere we can find a transport that might still have been overlooked?

Everyone thinks for a moment.

Amidala: My summer home.

Panaka: That’s right. The Queen’s personal yacht is there.

Panaka punches a few on the console, bringing up a map.

Panaka: It isn’t too far from here.

Obi Wan: Good. We should be on our way than. Before we’re spotted.

Cut to: Ext, day, under water. The camera is behind the two bongos, watching the invasion of Otoh Gunga beyond. The two ships come to life again and veer out of the shot.

Fade out.

Fade in: Ext, day, under water. The two bongos are slipping through the water, angled up and heading for the surface.

Cut to: Ext, day, Royal summer home dock. The bongos surface, glide to a stop at the small dock and the hatches open. Rolling, blunted mountains ring the placid waters stretching out from the home. It is a quiet and idyllic place. The two droids standing guard approach, guns raised.

Droid 1: Hold it right there. Where do you think you’re going?

The group does not reply as it strides toward the droids. When they are reached, Kenobi thrusts a hand forward, sending them flying into a nearby wall. They begin to stir but he is already upon them, slicing their heads off with his lightsabre in mid step. Panaka puts his back to the wall and peers carefully around a corner. He turns and motions for everyone to follow.

Panaka: It should be this way. Quickly.

Cut to: Ext, day, yacht landing. The sleek, mirrored surface of the Queen’s personal yacht contrast sharply with the rich, organic feel of the manor around it. Battledroids surround the transport and stand guard over the crew sitting off to the side waiting to be picked up for detainment. A barrage of blaster fire explodes through the entrance archway bringing with it the group in mortal combat with pursuing battledroids.

Obi Wan rushes in straight for the droids, deflecting blaster fire back at his enemies, the gungan warriors not far behind. Panaka, and the handmaidens continue to hold off the other droids through the archway while protecting the Queen and Ambassador.

As the gungans crash into the droids, pikes, crackling with energy, smacking heavily against robotic heads, the Jedi is weeding through another group with his blue energy blade, heading for the flight crew. Obi Wan spins, dodges and parries red bolts in an amazing display while slicing through heads and torsos.

Not long after the initial charge, one of the gungans is mowed down by a spray from a droid. The other takes down a few more but is overwhelmed by the remaining attackers and falls shortly after. Jar Jar is in shock and horror.

The flight crew takes the opportunity of the distraction to turn on their captors and triple team the remaining droid watching them to get its gun. Once free, they add their fire power to the fray and rush to get in the ship.

Panaka is still holding off the pursuing droids as the crew enters the ship. He turns back to see that the droids in the hanger have been destroyed at the expense of the gungans and motions for the Queen to break cover and run. The remaining group runs for the yacht with Panaka and Obi Wan covering their retreat. The last to enter the ship is Kenobi, as he bats a few last bolts at the droids and the ship takes off. He is rewarded for his effort by the form of Darth Maul striding through the archway to watch and sneer, too late to participate. The remaining battledroids fire into the air as the Queen’s yacht streaks off into the sky.

Cut to: Int, day, yacht cockpit. Ric Olie, the pilot, punches bottons and flips switches as the yacht breaks the atmosphere. As the sky outside the windshield darkens and becomes a starfield, a terrible and deadly array of battleships springs into view.

Olie: Would you look at that. *To copilot* Check those shields. This is going to get bumpy.

Obi Wan: Do we have blasters?

Olie: *Looks back briefly with a incredulous look* This is a private yacht.

Kenobi studies the starfield before him and points.

Obi Wan: There. Make for that spot. That is where they’re weakest.

Olie: *Concentrating* Yes, sir.

The ship is immediately bombarded with heavy fire, rocking it back and forth.

Cut to: Yacht, sitting room. Amidala sits calmly as the ship pitches back and forth. The handmaidens look scared and Jar Jar is clutching the wall with one hand and his stomach with the other.

Jar Jar: I think I’m going to be sick.

He rushes from the room to find somewhere to relieve his churning stomach. A door opens to a room housing astromech droids. Four of the squat, dome headed utility robots line one of the walls. Luckily there is a trash can of some kind and the Ambassador dives for it.

Cut to: Ext, space, yacht. The yacht spins from one side to the other in a hail of energy bolts. The battleships grow steadily and the fire grows thicker. A number of hits are scored on the yacht’s shields causing them to glow slightly with each contact.

Cut to: Int, yacht cockpit. Those in the room grab hold of anything they can find for support as the ship is rocked again.

Copilot: We’re done for if this beating keeps up.

Obi Wan: *Confidently* They’re not trying to destroy us.

Olie: Well they’re sure acting like it!

Cut to: ext, space, yacht hull. A blast hits, scorching the chrome finish and opening he hull slightly to reveal ruined components beneath.

Cut to: Int, yacht cockpit.

Olie: They’ve cut power to the shield generator! One more hit like that and we’re goners!

Obi Wan: Don’t worry. They only mean to disable us.

Cut to: Int, Astromech room. Jar Jar is standing over the trash can rubbing his face, eyes closed. With an excited beep, all four droids activate as one, roll away from their clamps on the wall and make a single file line for the rear of the room. The last droid in line bumps Jar Jar, who has been paying attention only to his stomach, causing the alien to jump back in surprise and fall to the floor. He moans as he passes out where he lays.

As each droid reaches the end of the room it is pulled up and off screen. The last droid in the line (R2-D2), a blue and white model, gives a string of twittering beeps before disappearing.

Cut to: Ext, space, yacht. Two of the droids have already made it to the hull breach and have started repairs. Energy blasts whip past as the other two roll their way over the hull. One of the droids working disappears in a ball of flame. The lead one on the move soon follows. R2-D2 reaches the damage site and begins work as his last comrade is plucked from the ship’s hull.

We see R2's extended arms working rapidly to do whatever he can to patch the damage. He pulls out damaged pieces and splices over them while reconnecting severed connections. An indicator light on the circuitry finally turns a satisfying green and the hull glimmers momentarily.

Cut to: Int, yacht cockpit.

Copilot: Shields are back up!

We see a small screen showing R2 dodging fire back to his access hatch.

Olie: That little droid did it! He’s restored power to the shields!

Cut to: Ext, space, Marauder fleet. The yacht pitches and rolls around one battleship and dives to hug the keel of another before breaking the line and hitting open space. Blaster fire surrounds the ship as it seems to stretch and then vanishes into hyperspace.

Fade out.

Cut to: Ext, day, open fields of Naboo. A massive convoy of battledroids and heavy armour weaponry march across the land. The camera follows the column back into the main city where it is obvious who is now in charge. Tanks are positioned throughout the city, armoured personnel carriers occupy open squares and squads of battledroids march everywhere.

Cut to: Int, day, royal throne room. Captain Tarkin stands with his hands clasped behind his back watching the deployment of his troops through the massive window that encompasses one wall.

Tarkin: They escaped?!

The man turns to the side and the camera pulls back to reveal his second in command (Commander Hesperon) along with Darth Maul.

Hesperon: *With confidence* Yes, Captain. One ship has gotten through the blockade. It was the Queen’s private yacht. *He sneers at Maul. Maul ignores the man.*

Tarkin: You were to capture the Queen, Lord Maul. She is a very valuable prize to be sure. And it would be most unfortunate for us if she were to inform the Republic of our venture. Find her and see that she doesn’t.

Hesperon: They jumped to hyperspace some time ago, Captain. They could be anywhere by now. It’s all but impossible to find them.

Maul: Not for a Sith.

Tarkin: *Turns calmly to Maul* Then find them. Your Master placed a lot of faith in you. I would hate to think that it is unfounded.

Maul sneers at Hesperon and turns to stalk away. His black cloak flows behind him.

Tarkin turns back to the window and watches as a wing of droid fighters flies past in formation.

Tarkin: And what of our progress here, Commander?

The two men turn and begin walking across the room to the exit.

Hesperon: We have located the facility and the technicians have begun dismantlement. It’s rather small, considering our needs, but will take some time to break down and ferry to our ships. We still have had no luck with the access codes to the facility’s main computer however. Our men are working on slicing into the system now but we were counting on forcing those codes from the Queen.

Tarkin: Perhaps the Governor can be persuaded to supply us with the information we require.

The men walk through grand hallways and down a magnificent marble stairway, passing battledroids on security detail. Hesperon gives the machines a sidelong glance.

Tarkin: I do not need to remind you of the expediency required in this operation, Commander. Our benefactor has given me every assurance that the Senate will be too mired in procedure to launch an assault if they get wind of this while we are here but I will not take chances.

Hesperon: Aye, sir. I agree completely. This droid army we’ve been given... *He looks around, shaking his head at the robots around them.* Fielding so many, so widely across the planet... Without the means for regular memory wipes we could quickly lose control.

Tarkin: Indeed. Tell the men to double their efforts. And find the Queen.

Cut to: Ext, space, yacht. The sleek vessel hurtles through hyperspace. The mottled blue and white of the background swirls around it.

Cut to: Int, yacht cockpit. Ric Olie, his copilot, Obi Wan and Panaka fill the room. An alarm sounds and a small display shows the fuel level for the hyperdrive dangerously low and dropping.

Olie: The hyperdrive is leaking. We’re going to have to set down and make repairs.

The Copilot quickly searches the computer for nearby planets.

Copilot: Here. Tatooine. We can make it there easily. It’s small, out of the way, poor but should have what we need for the ship. It’s controlled by the Hutts though.

Obi Wan: Take us there. It’s risky but we have little alternative.

Panaka: You can’t take Her Highness there! The Hutts are gangsters! If they discover her...

Obi Wan: ...It would be no different than if we landed on any other pirate and smuggler haven world on the outer rim... except the Hutts aren’t looking for her and they don’t abide their competition lightly. We have the advantage here.

Panaka: *sighs in frustration* This is reckless.

Cut to: Int, yacht, Queen’s chambers. Obi Wan, Captain Panaka and R2-D2 stand before Queen Amidala and her two handmaidens.

Panaka: ... An extremely well put together little droid, Your Highness. Without a doubt it saved the ship, as well as our lives.

Amidala: It is to be commended. What is its number?

R2 lets out a series of bleeps. Captain Panaka leans over and scrapes some dirt off of the side of the droid and reads the number:

Panaka: R2-D2, Your Highness.

Amidala: Thank you, Artoo Detoo. You have proven to be very loyal...Padme!

One of the handmaidens (Padme) bows before the Queen.

Amidala: Clean this droid up the best you can. It deserves our gratitude...*to Panaka* Continue, Captain.

Panaka looks nervously to Obi Wan.

Obi Wan: Your Highness, we are heading for a remote planet called Tatooine. There, we will be able to make needed repairs, then travel on to Coruscant.

Panaka: Your Highness, Tatooine is very dangerous. It's controlled the Hutts. I do not agree with the Jedi on this.

Obi Wan: You must trust my judgement, Your Highness.

Amidala and Padme exchange looks. Padme moves next to the droid.

Cut to: Int, yacht, main area. Padme sits cleaning R2. Jar Jar pops out of an open door and slumps down rubbing his bill and his stomach.

Padme: Your not looking well, Ambassador.

R2 beeps his agreement.

Jar Jar: Space travel definitely does not agree with me. Thankfully the jarring seems to have stopped.

Padme: *Smiling despite herself* You’ll get use to it. Luckily we should be landing soon.

Jar Jar: Oh, thank the gods. What is your name, young handmaiden?

Padme: I’m Padme, Ambassador Binks.

Jar Jar: Please, call me Jar Jar. I’m just glad we’ll be on the ground soon.

Padme: Actually, it’s only a stop-over. Once we get the parts we need to repair the ship, we’ll have to head back into space.

Jar Jar looks horrified and moans pitifully.

Cut to: Int, yacht cockpit. Obi Wan, and Panaka watch over Ric Olie’s shoulder. A large yellow planet appears directly ahead as Ric Olie searches his scopes.

Copilot: That’s it. Tatooine.

Olie: There's a settlement...a spaceport, looks like.

Obi Wan: Land near the outskirts. We don't want to attract any attention.

Cut to: Ext, Tatooine from space. The ship heads toward the planet.

Cut to: Ext, day, Tatooine desert. The Naboo spacecraft lands in the desert in a swirl of dust. The spaceport of Mos Espa is seen in the distance.

Cut to: Int, yacht engine room. The Copilot is opening panels on the hyperdrive as Kenobi (dressed as a farmer) enters with Panaka.

Copilot: Everything else I can fix but the hyperdrive generator is gone. We will need a new one.

Obi Wan nods and turns to Panaka.

Obi Wan: Don't let them send any transmissions while I’m gone. Be wary...I sense a disturbance in the Force.

Panaka looks cautious but unconvinced.

Kenobi goes into the hallway and meets up with Jar Jar who has discarded his ceremonial robes and now wears only the pants and sleeveless shirt that was underneath.

Jar Jar: Master Kenobi. I would go with you if I could. I would be observer for my people and quite frankly, I must be off this infernal craft.

Obi Wan: Good. I wanted you along anyway. Two of us will make things less obvious.

Kenobi motions for R2 to follow and the three of them head to the exit ramp.

Cut to: Ext, day, Tatooine desert. The spacecraft sits amid the dunes of sand. Obi Wan, Jar Jar and R2 start their trek across the desert toward the city of Mos Espa. In the distance, a strange looking caravan makes its way toward the spaceport.

Jar Jar: This sun is doing murder to my skin.

From the spaceship, Captain Panaka and Padme run toward them.

Panaka: Wait!

Kenobi stops as they catch up. Padme is dresses in rough peasant's garb.

Panaka: Her Highness commands you to take her handmaiden with you. She wishes for her to observe the local...

Obi Wan: No more commands from Her Highness today, Captain. This spaceport is not going to be pleasant...

Panaka: The Queen wishes it. She is curious about this planet.

Padme: I've been trained in defence... I can take care of myself.

Panaka: Don't make me go back and tell her you refuse.

Obi Wan: I don't have time to argue. But this is not a good idea. Stay close to me.

He gives Padme a stern look.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa street. The group walks down the main street of Mos Espa. They pass dangerous looking citizens of all types. Padme and Jar Jar look around in awe at this exotic environment.

Obi Wan: ...moisture farms for the most part, but also a few indigenous tribes and scavengers. The few spaceports like this one are havens for those who do not wish to be found...

Padme: Like us.

Jar Jar’s head and eye stalks are in constant motion, taking in everything around him while R2 whistles along, with perfect confidence.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa, Junk Dealer Plaza. The group comes to a little plaza surrounded by several junk spaceship dealers.

Obi Wan: 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.

Cut to: Int, day, Watto’s Junk Shop. Kenobi, Jar Jar, Padme and R2 enter the dingy junk shop and are greeted by a pudgy blue alien (Watto) who flies like a hummingbird on short, leathery wings.

Watto: *In Huttese* What do you want?

Obi Wan: I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian.

Watto: Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots of that. What kinda junk? *In Huttese* Boy, get in here! Now!

Obi Wan: My droid here has a readout of what I need.

A dishevelled boy, (Anakin Skywalker), walks casually in from the junk yard. He is about fifteen years old, fit but slim, and dressed in rags.

Watto: *In Huttese* What took you so long?

Anakin: *In Huttese* I was cleaning the bin like you...

Watto: *In Huttese* Never mind! Watch the store. I've got some selling to do here. *to Obi Wan* Soooo, let me take- a thee out back. You'll find what you need.

R2 and Obi Wan follow Watto toward the junk yard, leaving Jar Jar with Padme and Anakin. Jar Jar picks up a gizmo, trying to figure out its purpose. It squirts him in the face with oil.

Anakin sits on the counter, pretending to clean a part, staring at Padme. It is obvious that he finds her beautiful. Padme is a little embarrassed by his stare, but she musters up an amused smile. Finally, he gets the courage to speak.

Anakin: Pretty rough dress for an off-worlder, eh?

Padme: What?

Anakin: Your clothes. They just seem poor, like a farmer’s. Most off-worlders I see don’t dress like that.

Padme looks at him nervously, not knowing what to say. She wasn’t expecting to be challenged like this.

Padme: How do you know we’re off-worlders?

Anakin: Well, for one, you’re getting parts for a Nubian, which I’ve never seen out here in a long time. Second, I’ve never seen anyone like your friend. *He points to Jar Jar* And third, *He flashes her a shy, boyish smile* you look better than anyone else around here. Besides, I just got a feeling. *He shrugs*

Padme: *Smiling despite herself* You think you’ve got all the answers, don’t you. How do you know I’m not from another settlement?

Anakin: *He chuckles and continues polishing the object in his hand.* There aren’t that many settlements on Tatooine. And I’ve lived on this little rock all my life.

Padme: So your family is here.

Anakin: No, just me.

Padme: I'm sorry. That must be so lonely. What happened.

Anakin studies her intently.

Anakin: I don’t know really. I’ve never really known them. My friends and I look out for each other though.

Jar Jar pushes the nose on what appears to be a little droid, and it instantly comes to life, grows legs and arms, and starts marching around, knocking over everything. Jar Jar holds on but can't stop it.

Anakin: Hit the nose!

Jar Jar hits the nose, and the Droid collapses back into its original state. Anakin and Padme laugh. Anakin watches Padme straighten her hair.

Cut to: Ext, day, Watto’s junk yard. Watto reads a small portable monitor he is holding. He stands before a hyperdrive.

Watto: Here it is...a T-14 hyperdrive generator! You in luck, I'm the only one hereabouts who has one...but you might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper, I think...Saying of which, how you going to pay for all this?

Obi Wan: I have 20,000 Republic dataries.

Watto: Republic credits?! Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real...

Obi Wan: I don't have anything else. *raising his hand* But credits will do fine.

Watto: No they won'ta.

Kenobi, using his mind power, waves his hand again
.
Obi Wan: 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.

Cut to: Int, day, Watto’s Junk Shop. Jar Jar pulls a part out of a stack to inspect it, and they all come tumbling down. He struggles to catch them, only to knock more down. Anakin and Padme are oblivious.

Anakin: ...and I’m not too bad at fixing things. Watto isn’t paying much but it helps.

Kenobi hurries into the shop, followed by R2.

Obi Wan: We're leaving.

Jar Jar follows Obi Wan. Padme gives Anakin a coy look.

Padme: I'm glad I met you,....ah...

Anakin: Anakin.

Padme: Anakin.

Anakin: Anakin Skywalker.

Padme: Padme Naberrie.

Padme turns, and Anakin looks sad as he watches her leave.

Anakin: Maybe I’ll see you around.

Watto enters the junk shop, shaking his head.

Watto: *In Huttese* Outlanders! They think because we live so far from the center, we don't know nothing.

Anakin: *In Huttese, distracted* They seemed nice to me.

Watto: *In Huttese* Go home! Get out of my sight, Boy.

Anakin smiles, slaps Watto on the shoulder and slides off the counter.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa street alcove. Obi Wan, R2, Jar Jar and Padme have found a quiet spot between two buildings. The busy street beyond is filled with dangerous looking creatures. Obi Wan is talking on his com-link, while Jar Jar nervously watches the street. Panaka is in the main hold of the Naboo craft.

Obi Wan: Captain, you're sure there isn't anything of value left on board?

Panaka: *V.O* A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amounts you're talking about.

Obi Wan: All right. Another solution will present itself. I'll check back.

Kenobi puts his comlink away and starts out into the main street. Jar Jar grabs his arm.

Jar Jar: Everyone in this place seems insane. I fear we’re surely going to be beaten and robbed.

Obi Wan: Not likely, my friend. We have nothing of value. That's our problem.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa street market. Obi Wan, Padme, Jar Jar, and R2 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 an especially ugly creature (Sebulba) using his arms and legs to eat with equal ease.

Jar Jar stops for a moment in front of a stall selling dead frogs-like animals hanging on a wire. He looks around to see if anyone is looking, then shoots out his tongue, and gets hold of one, pulling it into his mouth. Unfortunately, the little snack is tied tightly to the wire. The vendor suddenly appears.

Vendor: *In Huttese* Hey, that will be seven wupi upi!

Jar Jar opens his mouth in surprise, and the food snaps away, ricochets around the market, and lands in Sebulba's soup, splashing him. As Jar Jar moves away from the vendor, Sebulba jumps over his table with his arms and grabs the hapless Gungan with his feet.

Sebulba: *In Huttese* You!

Jar Jar: I... Ah...

Sebulba: *In Huttese* Is this yours?

Sebulba holds the dead creature up to the Gungan threateningly. Several other creatures start to gather. Sebulba shoves Jar Jar to the ground. The Gungan desperately tries to scramble to safety.

Anakin: *V.O. In Huttese* Careful, Sebulba. This one’s a big time outlander. Connected. I’d hate to see you diced before we race again.

Jar Jar turns to see Anakin standing over him. The boy stands up to Sebulba but does not look ready for a fight.

Sebulba stops his assault on Jar Jar and turns to Anakin. Jumping into the air with his arms, he pushes the boy to the ground and lands on his chest.

Sebulba: *Smacking Anakin across the head* *In Huttese* You stay out of this boy! Next time we race it will be the end of you! I guarantee you that!

Anakin is surprised by the swift onslaught and tries feebly to defend himself but Sebulba is too strong and is holding his arms down with nimble feet.

Voice Over: What did I tell you, you stinkin’ Dug!

Sebulba’s eyes widen as a powerful hand clamps around his neck and pulls him roughly from atop Anakin. The creature finds himself dangling at the end of the muscular arm of another human. The man (Owen Lars), roughly twenty, is stocky, with the strong build of a farm boy. He is definitely one who has known manual labour all of his life. His eyes seethe with barely controlled anger.

Owen: What did I tell you about staying away from him?!

Sebulba grabs on to the arm with his legs as his hands try to open the vice-like grip. His face is turning purple as he chokes.

Owen throws the Dug to the ground and kicks him before he has a chance to react. Sebulba slinks defeated into the crowd, shooting daggers at Owen with his eyes. The young human is simply too powerful for him to take on. He needs smaller prey.

Owen turns and offers a hand down to Anakin. Raising him from the dirt, he points a finger at the boy.

Owen: And what did I tell you? I can’t keep pulling you out of the fire like this.

Anakin smiles at his friend.

Anakin: But you’re so good at it!

Obi Wan, Padme and R2 arrive as the crowd is breaking up.

Obi Wan: *To Jar Jar* What happened here? Who was that?

Owen: *Brushing his hands off* Who? The Dug? That was Sebulba.

Anakin: Yeah. Your friend here was picking a fight with him. Not smart. You’re luck I was here.

Owen: Yeah, right. You were doing great Annie.

Jar Jar: Oh no I wasn’t! That’s the last...

Obi Wan: *Holding up a hand to silence Jar Jar* Never the less, you were heading for trouble. Thank you, my young friends.

Padme looks at Anakin and smiles; he smiles back. They start walking down the crowded street.

Padme: Yes. Thank you Anakin.

Owen rolls his eyes and pats Anakin on the back.

Anakin: Oh. This is my friend Owen. *To Owen* This is Padme.

Jar Jar: I wasn’t doing anything! Really!

Cut to: Ext, day, Tatooine desert, spaceship. Captain Panaka stands in front of the Naboo spacecraft as the wind picks up and begins to whip sand around him. Ric Olie exits the ship and joins him.

Panaka: This storm's going to slow them down.

Olie: It looks pretty bad. We'd better seal the ship.

Panaka’s comlink sounds off.

Panaka: Yes? *Pause* We'll be right there.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa street fruit stand. Anakin, Owen and the group stop at a fruit stand run by a jolly, but very poor, old lady.

Anakin: How are you feeling today, Jira?

Jira: The heat's never been kind to me, you know, Annie!

Owen: We’ll take five pallies.

Anakin: *to Padme* You’ll like these.

Owen reaches in his pocket and comes up with three coins. Anakin takes the fruit and hands it out. Obi Wan lifts his poncho to put it in a pouch, revealing for a moment, his lightsabre.

The wind picks up. Shop owners start to close up their shops.

Jira: Gracious, my bones are aching...storm's coming on, Boys. You'd better get home quick.

Anakin: *To Obi Wan* Do you have shelter?

Obi Wan: We'll head back to our ship.

Owen: Is it far?

Padme: On the outskirts.

Owen: No, no, no. You'll never reach the outskirts in time...sandstorms are too dangerous. Come with us. Hurry!

The group follows the two locals as they rush down the windy street.

Cut to: Ext , day, Mos Espa street, sandstorm. The wind is blowing hard as Obi Wan, Jar Jar, R2 and Padme follow Anakin and Owen down the street and into a tiny hovel.

Cut to: Int, day, hovel main room. The group enters the small living space.

Anakin: Honey! I’m home!

Jar Jar: How cozy.

Owen: It’s not much but it protects us from the sun and the sand. Make yourselves at home, Padme, and... I’m sorry, I didn’t catch any more of your names. *He looks at Anakin for help*

Obi Wan: I’m Obi Wan Kenobi, and this is Jar Jar Binks.

R2 lets out a little beep.

Padme: ...and our droid, Artoo-Detoo.

Obi Wan: We must thank you again for offering us shelter.

Anakin: What else were we going to do? Let you get scoured?

Owen: *More gruffly* It’s only right to help those in need. *He looks carefully at the group for a second* If Annie thinks you’re good people, I’ll go along with him.

Anakin: Come on. Sit down. It’s almost dinner anyway. When the storm is over, you can see the Podracer I’m building.

Padme smiles at his enthusiasm. R2 lets out a flurry of beeps and whistles.

Cut to: Int, day, Naboo yacht, Queen’s chamber. Amidala, her remaining handmaiden and Captain Panaka watch a very bad transmission of a Sio Bibble hologram.

Bibble: ...the death toll is catastrophic...we must bow to their wishes, Your Highness...Please tell us what to do! If you can hear us, Your Highness, you must contact me...

Amidala looks upset...almost nervous.

Panaka: It's a trick, My Lady. We should send no reply... no transmission of any kind.

Cut to: Int, day, hovel main room. Kenobi listens to his comlink. Panaka is in the cockpit.

Obi Wan: It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace.

Panaka: What if it’s true and the people are dying?

Obi Wan: Either way, we're running out of time.

Cut to: Int, Sith Infiltrator. Darth Maul stands in the ship’s main room before a hologram of Darth Sidious.

Maul: Tatooine is sparsely populated. If the trace was correct, I will find them quickly, Master.

Sidious: Move against her Jedi protector first...you will then have no difficulty taking the Queen back to Naboo, where she will hand over the codes. You have been well trained, my young apprentice, and have shown that they are no match for you. It is now time to show them the breadth of our wrath. Everything is going as planned.

The hologram of Darth Sidious fades off as Darth Maul turns to his ship’s cockpit.

The rest will come soon if people are liking what they see.

Seems intresting.

Yes, interesting. I like your take on sorta focusing more on Naboo without it being boring.

Nice work.

I'm quite interested. I would like to see more very much. Already I can tell it will be much better then the real one.

more please...

It makes so much more sense your way. Please continue.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa, sandstorm. The giant sandstorm engulfs the town, including the Naboo spaceship on the outskirts. Where Watto's shop is; and the hovel, drifts of sand begin building up.

Cut to: Int, day, hovel main room. Kenobi, Anakin, Owen, Jar Jar and Padme are seated around a makeshift table, having dinner as the wind howls outside. Jar Jar looks curiously at everyone using spoons to eat their soup and tries with little success to use the utensil himself. He lifts a spoonful to his billed mouth and looks at it cautiously, long tongue extending slowly. He tries to imitate the others but only manages to spill soup on the table. Owen spares only a second from his meal to look annoyed.

Padme: So you live here together?

Owen: His parents and mine were killed here when we were very young. We’ve only had each other since then.

Anakin: Owen’s been looking out for me for as long as I can remember. We both work to chip in for what we need. *Anakin looks around at his home.* It’s enough for now until I can sign on to one of the starships and get off this rock.

Owen smiles at his friend despite himself.

Obi Wan: You’re a pilot than?

Owen: *Mocking* Oh sure. He’s already the ‘best star pilot in the galaxy.’ Isn’t that right Annie.

Anakin smiles at his old boasts being turned back on him.

Anakin: *Pointing at Owen.* You just watch and see. I could fly circles around some of those yahoos out there.

Owen turns serious.

Owen: You get yourself into too much trouble with that cocky attitude of yours. You’re lucky I was there today or you and your friend would have been all over the pavement. You, more than anyone, should know what Sebulba’s like. And flying around, out on the dunes like you do? You’re asking to be a trophy for some Tuscen or worse, a slave of the Hutts.

Padme: But the Republic’s anti-slavery laws...

Owen: *Bitterly* The Republic doesn’t exist out here. We survive on our own.

An awkward silence. Anakin attempts to end the embarrassment of his dressing down.

Anakin: So, have you guys ever seen a Podrace?

Padme shakes her head no. She notices the concern of Owen. Jar Jar snatches some food from a bowl at the other end of the table with his tongue. Kenobi gives him a dirty look.

Obi Wan: They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous.

Anakin: They say I'm the only human who can do it. *cocky grin*

Owen shakes his head in disapproval.

Anakin: Ow’, shut up. It's true. Watto says he's never heard of a human doing it.

Obi Wan: You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods.

Anakin smiles. Jar Jar attempts to snare another bit of food from the bowl with his tongue, but Obi Wan, in a flash, grabs it between his thumb and forefinger. Jar Jar is startled.

Jar Jar: *Around his tongue.* What? Would you have me starve?

Obi Wan lets go of the tongue, and it snaps back into Jar Jar's mouth.

Owen: *Groans* Don’t get him started on that. He doesn’t need his head filled with anything else. Watto’s bad enough. *To Anakin* He’s only after you to make him money, you know. And he’ll kill you if he finds out you’re taking parts from his yard for your Pod.

Anakin: You weren’t complaining the last time I brought home winnings.

Owen: As a matter of fact I was, because we had to spend half of it on your medical bills.

Anakin waves the comment away and turns to Obi Wan.

Anakin: So, ahhh...you're a Jedi Knight, right?

Obi Wan: And what makes you think that?

Anakin: I saw your weapon. Only Jedi carry something like that.

Kenobi leans back and slowly smiles.

Obi Wan: How can you be sure I didn’t kill a Jedi and take it from him?

Anakin: I just have a feeling. Besides, no one can kill a Jedi Knight.

Obi Wan: If only that were so...

Anakin: I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and... *He shakes the images from his head and does not finish.*

Obi Wan thinks for a moment.

Obi Wan: I can see there's no fooling you...*leans forward* You mustn't let anyone know about us. We're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission, and it must be kept secret.

Anakin: Coruscant...wow...how did you end up in the outer rim?

Padme: Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it.

Anakin shrugs and motions to himself and Owen.

Anakin: We can help try and fix it if you’d like. I can fix anything.

Obi Wan: I believe you can, but our first job is to acquire the parts we need...

Jar Jar: With nothing to trade.

Padme: These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind.

Owen: *Snorts* Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those damned races.

Obi Wan: Podracing... Greed can be a powerful ally... if it's used properly.

Anakin: Well then you fell in at the right time. There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod. It's all but finished... Just tell Watto it’s yours.

Owen: Anakin, settle down. They don’t have the money for the entry fee.

Anakin: *Ignoring his friend.* If you can convince Watto to front the entry fee, I’ll fly and I guarantee you I’ll win that race. On one condition...

Kenobi waits for him to finish.

Anakin: That you take me with you.

Kenobi looks to Owen. He is scowling.

Owen: Come on, Anakin! Harvest time is almost here. The moisture farmers are going to need hands again and we’ll be able to make good money. You can save up and buy your way to anywhere you want to go without risking your neck.

Anakin: Owen, you know I love this... and they need our help now. Not at the end of the season. Now. The prize money will more than pay for the parts they need and it’s a chance for me to follow my dreams. You may be content to stay here all your life but I’m not.

Obi Wan: *Guarded* Perhaps your friend is right. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?

Owen shakes his head no.

Anakin: We have to help them. It’s like you said, ‘It’s only right to help those in need...’

Owen: Anakin...

Padme: I'm sure Obi Wan doesn't want to put him in danger. We will find another way...

Owen: *sighs* No, Annie's right. I may not like it but there is no other way.

A broad smile stretches across Anakin’s face.

The storm continues to rage outside the hovel.

Fade out.

Fade in: Ext, day, Mos Espa, Junk Dealer Plaza. The storm has passed. Vendors and street people clean up the mess and rebuild their food stalls. Jar Jar sits on a box in front of Watto's parts shop, watching all the activity. R2 is standing next to him. Padme stops Obi Wan as he is about to enter the shop.

Padme: Are you sure about this? I like him, but... Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know... The Queen will not approve.

Obi Wan: *With a slight, knowing smile* The Queen does not need to know.

Obi Wan turns and starts into the shop.

Padme: Well, I don't approve.

Cut to: Int, day, Watto’s Junk Shop. Watto and Anakin are in the middle of an animated discussion in Huttese.

Watto: Patta go bolla!

Anakin: No batta!

Watto: Pedunky. Maa kee cheelya.

Anakin: Bayno, Bayno!

Kenobi walks in, and Watto and Anakin join him.

Watto: The boy tells me you wanta he fly insa race. You can't afford parts. How can you do this? Not on Republic credits, I think. *he laughs*

Obi Wan: That’s where you come in.

Watto: *Scoffs* I think no, Outlander. He fly my Pod in the last race. Smashed it up good. I won’ta be putting my own money on him now. Not without some insurance on it.

Obi Wan: My ship will be your collateral.

Obi Wan 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...a Nubian.

Obi Wan: It's in good order, except for the parts we need.

Watto: ...but what would the boy ride? Like I says, he smashed up my pod. It will take some time to fix it.

Anakin is indigent and steps forward.

Anakin: It wasn't my fault really! Sebulba flashed me with his vent ports. I actually saved the Pod...mostly.

Watto: *Laughing* That you did. The boy is good, no doubts there.

Obi Wan: I have...acquired a Pod in a game of chance.

Watto: I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it. *laughs* So, you supply the Pod, the boy flies, and I supply the entry fee against your ship. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think.

Obi Wan: If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need...If we lose, you, of course, keep my ship.

Watto thinks about this. Anakin tries to keep quiet.

Obi Wan: Either way, you win.

Watto: Deal! *In Huttese* Your friend is a foolish one, methinks.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo yacht. Panaka stands outside the Naboo spacecraft, speaking into his comlink. Obi Wan is on the back porch of the hovel.

Panaka: What if this plan fails? We could be stuck here for a long time.

Obi Wan: *V.O* A ship without a power supply will not get us anywhere, and there is something about this boy...

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa hovel porch. Obi Wan puts the comlink away as Owen comes onto the porch. Padme, Anakin, Jar Jar, and R2 work on the engines of the Podracer in
the courtyard below.

Obi Wan: You should be proud of your friend. I sense he is very special.

Owen: He IS special. He has...

Obi Wan: He has powers.

Owen: Yes...

Obi Wan: He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait.

Owen: Don’t start that. He needs to get his head out of the clouds and be practical.

Obi Wan: The Force is unusually strong with him, that can not be denied. Do you remember his parents at all?

Owen: Vaguely. Not much. No names other that Mister and Misses Skywalker. You have to help me talk some sense into him before he hurts himself or someone else.

Obi Wan: He must choose his own destiny, Owen.

Owen: Then you mean to take him and turn him into a Jedi.

Obi Wan: I'm afraid that may not come to be either. Had he been born in the Republic, we would have identified him early, and he would have become Jedi, no doubt...he has the way. But it's too late for him now, he's too old.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa hovel, back yard. Two boys and a girl (Kitster, Seek and Baru) about Anakin’s age, and a Rodean (‘Greedo type’ alien) (Wald) join Anakin, Jar Jar, R2, and Padme securing some wiring.

Anakin: *Looking up from his work* Hey guys. Padme, Jar Jar, these are some friends of mine, Kitster, Seek, Baru, and Wald.

All whistle, hoot, and speak a greeting.

Kitster: *Seeing R2* Wow. Your pulling out the big guns for his one. How’d you manage the pit crew? With an Astromech, no less.

Anakin: *With a sly, cocky smile* They’re new friends. They got me entered in the Boonta Race tomorrow.

Kitster: With this?

Wald: *subtitled* You are such a joker, Annie.

Baru: You've been working on that thing for years, Kid. It's never going to run.

Seek: *Shaking his head* Yeah. Let’s go. Keep it up, Annie, keep it up...

Seek, Wald, and Baru saunter off to find Owen, laughing. Jar Jar is curiously studying one of the energy binder plates.

Anakin: Hey! Stay away from those energy binders...

Jar Jar: Whaa?

Anakin: If your hand gets caught in that beam, it will go numb for hours.

Jar Jar look suspiciously at the energy plate and backs away slowly, causing him to bump into the other engine.

Anakin: Careful. Those blades are sharp.

Jar Jar looks behind him and checks his pants for cuts. While he is craning his head around he leans a hand on another engine part. His hand sears and he jumps back.

Anakin: Watch it! That’s hot!

Jar Jar: *Rubbing his hand* That’s it. I’m going someplace safer.

He walks off to the side, shaking his hand, and sits on a chair. The chair has a glob of grease on it, however, and he slips off. Padme shakes her head and R2 gives a sympathetic hoot.

Kitster: But you don't even know if this thing will run.

Anakin: It will.

Obi Wan approaches the group and gives Anakin a small battery.

Obi Wan: I think it's time we found out. Use this power charge.

Anakin: Yes, sir!

Anakin jumps into the capsule behind the two giant engines. He puts the power pack back into the dashboard. Everyone backs away. The engines ignite with a roar. Everyone cheers.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa, hovel porch. Owen watches stone-faced from the porch as Seek, Baru, and Wald approach.

Cut to: Ext, night Tatooine desert mesa. The sinister looking Sith spacecraft lands on top of a desert mesa at dusk, scattering a herd of banthas. 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.

Cut to: Ext, sunrise, Mos Espa, hovel porch. Padme exits the hovel.

Cut to: Ext, sunrise, Mos Espa hovel backyard. As the twin suns rise, R2 is busy painting the racing Pod. Anakin is asleep. Padme passes R2.

Padme: I hope you're about finished.

R2 whistles a positive reply. Padme sees Kitster riding toward them on an eopie, a strange camel-like creature. He is leading a second one behind him. Padme goes over to Anakin. He looks very vulnerable as he sleeps. She watches him, then touches him on the cheek. Anakin wakes up, yawns, and looks at her, a little puzzled.

Anakin: You were in my dream...

Padme: *Mocking, as if it were a bad pick up* Really...

Anakin: *Ignoring her* ...you were leading a huge army into battle.

Padme: I hope not; I hate fighting. We have to leave soon.

Anakin stands up and stretches just as Kitster arrives.

Anakin: Hook 'em up, would ya Kit. *to Padme* I won't be long. Where's Obi Wan?

Padme: He and Jar Jar left already. They're with Watto at the arena.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa arena main hanger. Race crews mill about outside the Main Hanger.

Cut to: Int, day, Mos Espa arena main hanger. 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, Obi Wan and Jar Jar walk through the activity.

Watto: I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over.

Obi Wan: 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.

Obi Wan: You don't think Anakin will win?

Watto stops before an orange racer. Sitting to one side, having his shoulders and neck massaged by Twi’liks, is Sebulba.

Watto: Don't get me wrong. I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is going to win, I think.

Obi Wan: Why?

Watto: He always wins. *laughs* I'm betting heavily on Sebulba.

Obi Wan: I'll take that bet.

Watto: *suddenly stops laughing* What?! What do you mean?

Obi Wan: I'll wager my new racing pod against...say...your share of the winnings.

Watto: That much for your Pod? I don't think so... Better be some fast Pod I think, no?

Obi Wan: You need another Pod...

Watto thinks for a moment and then pulls out a small cube from his pocket.

Watto: We'll let fate decide. Blue I take your bet, red no...

Watto tosses the cube down. Obi Wan lifts his hand slightly; it lands on blue. Obi Wan smiles. Watto is angry.

Watto: You might have won the small toss, Outlander, but you won't win the race, so it makes little difference.

Anakin and Padme enter the hanger on one of the eopies, pulling an engine. Owen, on the other eopie, is pulling another engine. R2 trundles behind, pulling the Pod. Watto passes Anakin as he leaves.

Watto: *In Huttese* Better stop your friend’s betting, or I'll end up owning him!

Watto flies off, laughing.

Owen: What did he mean by that?

Obi Wan: I'll tell you later.

Owen: *to Anakin* Watch these guys out there, Anakin. This is an actual race now. These big leaguers mean business.

Padme: *Concerned* How many races have you been in?

Anakin: Oh, tonnes of unofficial ones.

Padme: How many - Official - races?

Anakin: This would be the first.

Padme’s face drops even more. Anakin looks worried for a moment before it is replaced by his usual self-assurance.

Anakin: Relax. This is in the bag.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa street. One of Darth Maul's probe droids slowly floats down the main street. It looks in shops and studies people as it searches for Obi Wan, or the Queen.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa Desert Race Arena. 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.

Cut to: Int, day Arena Announcer’s box. A two-headed Announcer (Fode/Beed) describes the scene.

Fode: *In Huttese* Greetings! We have perfect weather today for the Boonta classic. The most hazardous of all Podraces.

Beed: That's absolutly right. And a big turnout here, from all corners of the Outer Rim territories. I see the contestants are making their way out onto the starting grid.

Cut to: Ext, day Desert Race Arena. On the left side of the tracks across from the grandstands, a line of Podracers emerges from the large hanger, surrounded by several crew members. Pods are pulled by a wide variety of creatures and are led by aliens carrying flags. The pilots stand facing the royal box. We hear the Announcer from off screen.

Fode: *In Huttese* Yes, there they are!

Beed: I see Ben Quadinaros from the Tund system.

Fode: *In Huttese* And Gasgano in the new Ord Pedrovia.

Beed: Two time winner, Boles Roor...

Fode: *In Huttese* On the front line the reigning champion, Sebulba from Pixelito. By far the favourite today!

Beed: And a late entry, Anakin Skywalker, a local boy. I see the flaggers are moving onto the track.

Cut to: Ext, day Arena Grandstand. Colourful canopies shade some of the spectators. Vendors sell barbecued creature parts and colourful drinks.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena Royal Box. All the pilots bow from the waist as Jabba The Hutt enters the box and waves to the crowd.

Fode: *In Huttese* His honor, our glorious host, Jabba the Hutt has entered the arena.

The crowd roars. Another slug-like Hutt follows, along with humans and aliens. Several slave girls on a chain are led alongside Jabba.

Jabba: *In Huttese* Welcome!

Cut to: Ext, day, starting grid. Sebulba, who is right next to Anakin, stands and waves to his fans. A small pep band plays as his fans wave and cheer.

Owen attaches the giant engines to Anakin's Pod with a long cable.

Owen: Be safe.

Anakin: Hay. It’s me.

He leaves as Anakin checks the cable hitches.

Jabba: Mawhonic tuta Hok, Teemto Pagalies tuta Moonus Mandel, Anakin Skywalker tuta Tatoonine....

The crowd yells. Anakin waves to the crowd, as Jabba continues with his introductions. Sebubla moves over to one of Anakin's engines. Owen and Jar Jar unhitch the eopies, and Owen leads them away. R2 beeps that everything is OK. Jar Jar pats Anakin on the back.

Jar Jar: *Looking around horrified.* May the gods be kind to you, my young friend.

Padme comes up and gives Anakin a little kiss on the cheek. Sebulba bangs on a part protruding from Anakin's engine. He looks around to see if anyone has noticed.

Padme: You carry all our hopes.

Anakin: *Smiles* No pressure, eh.

Padme is pushed away as Sebulba edges his way next to Anakin and gives him a sinister grin.

Sebulba: *In Huttese* You won't walk away from this one, scum! You're Bantha poodoo.

Anakin: *In Huttese* Don't count on it, slime-ball.

Anakin looks the evil Sebulba head on with fear in his eye. Obi Wan approaches, and Sebulba backs off toward his racer.

Anakin: See you at the finish line.

Jabba: *In Huttese*...Let the challenge begin!

The crowd lets out a loud cheer. Anakin gets into his Pod and straps himself in. Obi Wan give him a pat.

Obi Wan: Are you all set, Anakin? *Anakin nods* Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel. Don't think. Trust your instincts. *he smiles* May the Force be with you.

Obi Wan steps away as Anakin puts on his goggles. The pilots flip switches, and powerful energy binders shoot between the engines. Anakin flips a switch, and his engine starts. The incredible roar of high-powered engines igniting echoes throughout the arena. One driver (Ody Mandrell) yells at a droid (DUM-4) to get away from the front of his engine. The crowd is tense.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena starting grid. The giant power-house engines torque as the pilots gun them. Aliens carrying large flags move off the track. Jar Jar covers his eyes.

Jar Jar: Ahh. This makes me sick just watching.

Fode: *In Huttes* The power couplings are being activated!

Beed: Hey, it looks like they're clearing the grid.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena Viewing Platform. Owen looks sternly to Obi Wan as he enters a viewing platform. Padme and Jar Jar are already on board. The platform rises like an elevator.

Owen: How is he doing?

Obi Wan: He's fine.

Padme: You are far too reckless, Master Jedi. The Queen...

Obi Wan: The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden. You should too.

Padme: You assume too much.

Cut to: Ext, day Arena Announcer’s Box.

Beed: Start your engines.

The earth-pounding roar of the engines revving is deafening.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena Royal Box. Jabba bites off the head of a frog and spits it at a gong, signalling the start of the race.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena starting grid. On a bridge over the track, a great green light at the center flashes. The Podracers shoot forward with a high-pitched scream. Anakin’s engine floods and coughs - then dies. All the other Podracers except one swerve around him and disappear down the track. The boy struggles to get his racer started. The two-headed announcer reports from off screen.

Fode: *In Huttese* And they're off!

Beed: Oh...wait. Looks like Skywalker has stalled.

Padme and Jar Jar are very disappointed with Anakin. Obi Wan pats a worried looking Owen on the back. Finally, Anakin's engines ignite. He zooms away after the receding pack of competitors, leaving one quadra-Pod racer still trying to get started. The two-headed Announcer describes the race as it progresses.

Beed: And there goes Skywalker... He'll be hard pressed to catch up with the leaders today.

Cut to: Ext, day, racetrack. The Podracers fly across the desert. Sebulba is running neck and neck with Mawhonic. They round the first turn in the track, side by side. Sebulba drives his Pod into his rival, forcing him into the wall of a large rock formation. Mawhonic crashes in a spectacular display of fire and smoke.

Anakin is much faster than the back-end stragglers and passes them easily. One of the drivers, Gasgano, won't let Anakin by. Anakin tries to pass him on one side and is cut off. He then tries to pass him on the other side and is cut off. As they come up on a cliff drop-off, Anakin backs off, then guns it as Gasgano goes over the cliff. Anakin accelerates so fast that he sails right over the top of Gasgano and speeds away.

Four Tusken Raiders perched above the race course fire their rifles at the Pods racing in the canyon below them. One shot ricochets off the back of Anakin's Pod.

Beed: Looks like a few Tusken Raiders have camped out on the canyon dune turn.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena Viewing Platform. Jabba and the crowd watch the progress of the race on small, hand-held view screens. Jar Jar is looking over the shoulder of a strange alien.

Jar Jar: Where's Skywalker?

Padme and Owen watch another screen and look worried. Obi Wan looks into the distance calmly.

R2, down in the pits with Kitster, lets out a worried sigh. The driver of the quadra-Pod looks worried.

Cut to: Ext, day, Racetrack. Anakin is powering around corners and over hills and cliffs, passing other racers right and left. Sebulba is in the lead but he is being challenged by another racer, Xelbree. Sebulba slows a little, and as Xelbree pulls alongside, he opens a side vent and the exhaust starts to cut through the alien's engine. The blast cuts along the engine until finally it explodes. Sebulba deftly veers away.

Anakin works his way through a dense mass of racers as they zoom over a dune sea, kicking up dust. His Pod shakes violently as he goes over a jump. One of the Podracers, Ody, catches one of his engines in the sand, and the whole thing explodes.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena Viewing Platform. Obi Wan sits quietly, meditating. Padme and Owen search the landscape for any sign of the racers. Jar Jar is still trying to see over the alien’s shoulder. The crowd screams. Watto is laughing with his friends, confident in Anakin's defeat.

The quadra-Pod engines start just as the racers come around the corner. The driver, Ben Quadrinaros, puts it in gear, and the four engines go off in all directions, exploding in a spectacular display. The Pod drops to the ground as Sebulba enters the arena, closely followed by all the other racers. Kitster strains to see as R2 beeps excitedly. The announcer continues off screen.

Beed: There goes Quadrinaros' power couplings.

Fode: *In Huttese* Here comes Sebulba in record time!

Lap two. Sebulba and the pack race past the main arena. The crowd stands and yells as the Podracers scream off into the distance. Padme looks worried.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena Pit Area. R2 lets out an excited whistle, as Kitster yells.

Cut to: Ext, day, Racetrack. Sure enough, coming around the bend is Anakin, quickly gaining on the pack. The two-headed announcer describes the action. The crowd goes wild.

Beed: It looks like Skywalker is moving up through the field. He's in...

Fode: *In Huttese* Sixth place, not bad.

Anakin continues to gain on the pack. Tension for Owen and Padme is unbearable.

Ody stops in the pits. Droids work on his engines. DUM-4 stands in front of the engine and is sucked in, causing the engine to explode in a puff of smoke. DUM-4 is spit out the back of the engine, very bent up.

Fode: *In Huttese* Ody Mandrell into the pits for some attention.

Ody: Droids!

Terter is getting close to Sebulba, who takes a small part from a compartment and sends it into Terter's engine, causing him to veer into Anakin, and unhooks one of the boys main engine straps. Anakin struggles to keep control of the little Pod as it whips about wildly.

As the Pod swings near the broken engine strap, Anakin grabs for it. Finally, he catches the strap and manages to hook it to the Pod.

Sebulba cuts the engine of Obitoki with his side exhaust, and the racer crashes with a cloud of dust. A third racer, Habba, flies into the cloud of dust and crashes into Obitoki. Anakin rounds a corner and also heads into the cloud, somehow deftly avoiding all of the debris.

Beed: *O.S.* At the start of the third and final lap, Sebulba is in the lead, closely followed by Skywalker...

Anakin finally catches up with Sebulba, and runs neck and neck over the rough terrain. The group screams as Anakin comes through the arena. The lights in the tower indicate that this is the third and last lap. Watto begins to worry. Sebulba uses his side exhaust port to try to cut through Anakin's engines. Anakin manages to avoid having his engine disabled but is forced off course.

Beed: *O.S.* Skywalker is forced onto the service ramp!

Fode: *O.S.* Oh noah!

Anakin’s Pod shoots up the service ramp and into the sky. The boy looks down at the track from his height, makes a few control adjustments and begins to drop at a steady angle. When he is just about on the ground he guns the engines and roars into the lead.

Beed: *O.S.* Amazing... a controlled thrust and he's back on course! What a move!

Sebubla is furious. He stay's right on Anakin's tail, crowding him and pushing him through the turns. Sebulba pushes Anakin harder, and the young man has a difficult time keeping control.

One of the parts on Anakin's engines (the part that Sebulba tampered with) begins to shake loose. The boy sees it and switches over to an auxiliary system. While he is trying to accomplish this manoeuver, Sebubla races past him.

Back at full power, Anakin tries to get around Sebulba, but to no avail. Every move Anakin makes, Sebulba is able to block. Finally, he fakes a move into the inside as he usually does, then tries to go around Sebulba on the outside. They race side by side down the final stretch of the track.

Beed: *O.S.* He's catching Sebulba!

Fode: *O.S. In Huttese* Incredible!

Sebulba veers toward Anakin and bangs into his Pod. He crashes into him over and over. Soon the young man is struggling to maintain control as the steering rods on the two Pods become hooked together. Sebulba laughs at Anakin.

Beed: *O.S.* That human being is out of his mind.

Fode: *In Huttese* They're neck and neck!

Beed: They're side by side!

Fode: *In Huttese* Shoulder to shoulder!

As they head for the final stretch, Anakin fights to unlock the steering rods by trying to pull away from Sebulba. The strain on the steering rod is tremendous. After trying everything, we see Anakin’s face calm and hear the familiar music. He shifts his steering controls subtly and suddenly the Pods are spinning apart.

The release of tension sends Sebulba into an ancient rock column. One engine explodes, then the other. Sebulba skids through the fire-balls, blackened, but unhurt and slides to a smoking stop. Beaten, he slams his fists in the controls.

Anakin flies through the explosion as the crowd stands, cheering. Padme and Jar Jar jump up and down with excitement, Padme screaming for joy. R2 whistles hysterically. Obi Wan smiles. Owen raises a tight fist in victory.

Anakin races over the finish line, the winner.

Cut to: Int, day, Arena Announcer’s Box. The two-headed announcer excitedly calls the finish.

Beed: It's Skywalker! The crowd is going nuts! Oh Ah Oh Ah *rocks head in tandem with partner*

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena. As Anakin stops the Podracer, Kitster turns up, and they embrace. Hundreds of spectators join them and put Anakin on their shoulders, marching off, cheering and chanting.

Darth Maul's probe droids move through the crowd.

Cut to: Int, day, Arean Private Box. Several aliens leave Watto's box, laughing and counting their money. Watto sees Obi Wan 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 Obi Wan and puts his face right up against Obi Wan’s. Obi Wan simply smiles.

Obi Wan: Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose. Bring the parts to the main hanger.

Watto: You can't have them! It wasn't a fair bet!

Obi Wan: Would you like to discuss it with the Hutts...I'm sure they can settle this.

Watto: No, no! I want no more of your tricks!

The Sith probe droid watches with great interest.

Cut to: Ext, day, Arena Main Hanger. The Main Hanger is almost deserted as racers depart.

Cut to: Int, day, Arena Main Hanger. Jar Jar gives Anakin a great hug, then Padme gives him a hug. Owen shakes his hand vigorously.

Owen: You did it! You actually did it!

Padme: We owe you everything.

Anakin: No. Just one thing.

In the background, Obi Wan has harnessed the eopies to containers full of parts.

Obi Wan: Padme, Jar Jar, let's go, we've got to get these parts back to the ship.

The group walks over to Obi Wan and the eopies. Padme climbs on behind Obi Wan. Jar Jar swings up onto the second eopie. R2 whistles. Anakin and Owen wave as they ride off.

Obi Wan: Be ready. I'll return by midday.

Cut to: Ext, day, Tatooine desert, Naboo yacht. R2 cruises ahead of Obi Wan and Padme, who are riding one of the eopies; Jar Jar rides the other. They stop in front of the sleek Naboo spacecraft. Panaka comes out of the ship and joins them.

Obi Wan: Start getting this hyperdrive generator installed. I'm going back...some unfinished business. I won't be long.

Panaka: *To Padme* What’s this all about?

Padme: It's the boy who's responsible for getting those parts. He’s coming with us to Coruscant.

On a hill far overlooking the Naboo spacecraft, the Sith probe droid turns and speeds away.

Cut to: Ext, day, Mos Espa hovel. Obi Wan enters to see Anakin already packed and waiting. Owen stands over him with arms crossed, looking sombre. Obi Wan takes a pouch of credits from beneath his poncho and hands them to Owen.

Obi Wan: These are yours. The winnings of the race from Watto, plus we sold the Pod. It should help make things a little easier around here.

Anakin: *Beaming* That’s great!

Owen takes the bag slowly.

Owen: Thanks.

Owen looks stonily at Obi Wan. The Jedi meets the stare eye to eye.

Owen: So you’re really going to take him after all. I half expected you were just feeding him a line to use him.

Anakin: Owen, don’t start.

Obi Wan: He seems to still wish it.

Owen: Do you, Annie? Do you really? Are you sure you want to leave everything you know, everyone you care about, who care about you, to follow along on some damn-fool idealistic crusade? Whatever they’re doing, it’s not your fight. Don’t get involved. Stay home. There will be other, safer, chances for you to fly. Especially now.

Anakin: *Firmly* I’m going.

As they’re talking, Obi Wan sees something at the open door out the corner of his eye. Suddenly, without warning, he ignites his lightsabre, swings around, and lunges forward, cutting a lurking probe droid in half. Obi Wan inspects the sparking and fizzing droid.

Anakin: What is it?

Obi Wan: A Probe Droid. Very unusual... Not like anything I've seen before. *He stops to stretch out with his feelings.* We’d better get going quickly. *Points to Owen* And you’re coming too if you want to stay living.

Owen takes a deep breath.

Owen: Ah, hell. Somebody has to make sure you don’t get yourself killed anyway.

Anakin grabs his bag and they start running out the door.

Cut to: Ext, day Tatooine desert, Naboo yacht. Obi Wan, Owen and Anakin run toward the Naboo spacecraft. Anakin is having a hard time keeping up with the others.

Anakin: Hey, wait!

Obi Wan turns to answer and sees a dark-cloaked figure on a speeder bike bearing down on them.

Obi Wan: Anakin, drop!

Anakin drops to the ground just as Darth Maul sweeps over him. Maul jumps off his speeder bike, and before he has hit the ground, the Sith Lord has swung a death blow with his lightsabre that is barely blocked by Obi Wan. It is the same weapon used in the Naboo Royal throne Room but only one blade is now ignited. As Anakin picks himself up, the two galactic warriors, Sith and Jedi, are bashing each other with incredible, lightning-fast blows. They move in a continual cloud of dust. This is a fierce fight. Owen grabs Anakin and starts pulling him along, both bewildered by the confrontation.

Obi Wan: Get to the ship! Both of you! Take off! Go! Go!

Obi Wan struggles to fend off the relentless onslaught as the other two race to the ship.

Cut to: Int, spacecraft, hallway. Anakin and Owen run into the main hallway of the spaceship, where Padme and Captain Panaka are working.

Anakin: Obi Wan's in trouble. He says to take off...now!

Cut to: Int, day, yacht cockpit. Panaka, Anakin, Owen, and Padme rush into the cockpit where Ric Olie is checking the hyperdrive readouts.

Panaka: Obi Wan’s in trouble, he says to take off!

Olie: I don't see anything.

Owen: Over there! Fly low!

In the distance is a small cloud of dust marred by two slashes, one blue, one red.

Cut to: Ext, day, Tatooine desert, Naboo yacht. Obi Wan and Darth Maul continue their sword battle. Leaping over one another in an incredible display of acrobatics, the two warriors hear the ship fly over them a few feet off the ground. Obi Wan almost disappears for a moment. Before Maul knows what's happening, the Jedi is on the spacecraft's ramp.

Cut to: Ext, day yacht ramp. The Sith Lord immediately jumps onto the ramp after Obi Wan, but barely makes it. His heels hang over the edge of a forty-foot drop. Obi Wan, holding on to the door frame, swings his lightsabre with all his might, trying to knock Maul off the ramp. The Sith dances on the edge of the ramp but manages to stay on. Obi Wan lets go of his hold and moves further out to try again. This time Maul drops but is able to grab on to the ramp. Being too far out, Obi Wan starts to fall along with his enemy. He is pulled back at the last minute by Owen’s powerful arms. The ramp starts to lift and Maul drops to the desert floor. The ramp closes, and the Naboo craft rockets away, leaving the Sith Lord standing alone.

Cut to: Ext, space, yacht. The sleek spacecraft rockets away from the planet Tatooine.

Cut to: Int, yacht, hallway. Anakin and Owen stand over a collapsed Obi Wan on the floor opposite the entry. R2 is looking over him. The Jedi is breathing hard, wet with sweat and covered in dirt.

Obi Wan: *To Owen* Looks like you’ll be watching out for more than one person.

Anakin: What was that thing?

Obi Wan: I don't know yet... But he is well trained in the Jedi arts and is after the Queen...

Owen: I suppose he’ll follow us too.

Obi Wan: We'll be safe enough once we're in hyperspace, but I have no doubt he knows our destination.

Cut to: Int, yacht, cockpit. Ric Olie pulls back on the hyperdrive. Obi Wan and Anakin watch.

Cut to: Ext, space, yacht. The ship streaks into hyperspace.

good stuff. Write more please.

I first thought you were going to slightly alter the script (much like "The Phantom Edit" on the internet which just cut out most of the Jar Jar scenes) but I must say I like the near-complete rewriting of the movie much better. A much older Anakin, no midichlorians, establishing an actual friendship with Owen Lars instead of him just being the sorta-half brother who never seems to meet Anakin to be able to learn about him, and so on. It's excellent. Please continue if you have the time.

Thanks guys. At the very least, I hope I gave Jar Jar a little freakin' dignity. More will come.

Cut to: Ext, night, Theed street. Several Battledroids patrol a deserted city street. The Palace can be seen in the distance.

Cut to: Int, night, palace hallway. Tarkin and Hesperon walk casually as an obviously tortured Sio Bibble is half carried beside them by two alien crew members.

Tarkin: You really should give up this pointless obstinance, Governor. Your people are captive on their own world, your Queen is gone, and you will be joining her if you do not give me what I need.

Bibble: I can not give you what I do not know. This invasion will gain you nothing. The people will not live under your tyranny.

Tarkin: We shall see, Governor. We shall see. *To the droids* Take him away.

Bibble is taken away as a battledroid baring yellow command stripes approaches.

Droid: My troops are in position to begin searching the swamps for the hidden strongholds of the primitives. They will not stay hidden for long.

Cut to: Int, Naboo yacht, 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 floor, snoring. R2 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 slightly and looking at her. She goes over to him. He is holding his arms to keep himself warm.

Padme: Are you all right?

Anakin: Just a little cold. It’s nothing.

Padme gives him her over-jacket.

Padme: You're from a warm planet, Annie. Too warm for my taste. Space is cold.

Anakin: Why are you up?

Padme: The Queen is...worried. Her people are suffering...dying. She must gain military support from the Senate, or...I'm not sure what will happen.

Anakin: Hey. Things will work out. They have been so far.

Anakin tries to give a confident smile for her benefit.

Padme: I don’t think it’s that simple Anakin.

Anakin: I guess you’re right. Heck, I probably won’t see you again once we reach the capital. I hope you remember me. Even a little.

Padme nods slowly.

Padme: Many things will change when we reach the capital, Annie, but my caring for you will always remain.

Anakin smiles, slightly embarrassed.

Anakin: Care for me?

Now it is Padme’s turn to be embarrassed and look shy.

Anakin: I won’t forget you either.

Anakin sighs.

Padem: What is it?

Anakin: I guess I’m just scared. I’ve wanted this all my life and now that I’ve got it I’m frightened of what’s to come next. Can you believe it?

The camera swings over to where Owen is sleeping, propped against a wall. One eye opens, watching the couple, and then closes again. He smiles and falls back asleep.

Cut to: Ext, space, Coruscant. The camera moves with the ship as it heads toward Coruscant.

Cut to: Int, day, Coruscant cityscape, Naboo yacht. The spacecraft flies over the endless cityscape of Coruscant, the capital of the galaxy.

Cut to: Int, day, yacht. Anakin looks out the cockpit window in awe.

Olie: Coruscant...the capital of the Republic...the entire planet is one big city.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo yacht. The ship flies through the cityscape of Coruscant.

Cut to: Ext, day, Senate Landing Platform. Supreme Chancellor Valorum, several guards, and Senator Palpatine stand on the landing platform.

The sleek Naboo spacecraft lands on the platform high above the street level of the galactic capital. The ramp lowers. Obi Wan, Anakin, and Owen descend the ramp first and bow before Palpatine and Valorum. Captain Panaka, Queen Amidala, then Padme and the other handmaiden (Rabe), and Jar Jar 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. I have been trying to reach you since my last transmission died. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum.

Valorum: Welcome, Your Highness. It is an honour to meet you. I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the situation your men have described. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your plea.

Amidala: I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor.

Palpatine starts to lead the Queen 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...

Anakin and Owen start to follow, then stop, noticing that Obi Wan is staying with the Supreme Chancellor. Queen Amidala waves to the duo to follow her. Anakin looks back to Obi Wan, and he nods to go ahead so they join the group in the taxi.

Palpatine gives the Gungan a skeptical look as the taxi rocks and the creature makes to heave over the side. He than looks at the two young men in rags in the back.

Valorum and the Jedi watch the taxi move off into the city.

Obi Wan: I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately, Your Honour. This situation has become more complicated.

Cut to: Int, day, Palpatine’s Quarters, Anteroom. Queen Amidala is sitting listening to Palpatine. Rabe stands behind the Queen; Padme is nowhere to be seen. Anakin, Owen and Jar Jar are waiting in an adjoining room. They can see the Queen but cannot hear what is being said.

Jar Jar: They are talking about the safety of MY planet, yet they bar me from the discussion. Arrogance!

Two guards at the door eye him suspiciously.

Anakin: I don’t even know why we need to been here.

Owen just sits quietly and looks at the statues and paintings on the wall.

Captain Panaka enters, then goes into the room with Queen Amidala.

Cut to: Int, day, Palpatine’s Quarters, Living Area. Palpatine is pacing as Captain Panaka enters. Rabe stands to one side.

Palpatine: ...the Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates who are only looking out for themselves and their home systems. There is no interest in the common good...no civility, only politics...its disgusting. I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion. The majority will fear that it will draw too large a force away from the core.

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 down by baseless accusations of corruption. A manufactured scandal surrounds him. The bureaucrats are in charge now.

Amidala: What options do we have?

Palpatin: Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who will take control, enforces the laws, and see that the Republic’s people are defended. You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum.

Amidala: But he has seemed so concerned for us. He has called the hearing. Is there any other way?

Palpatine: I will tell you now, Your Majesty, the hearing will accomplish nothing. I will be very surprised if any ships are allotted to our little planet. We are not important enough. Our only other choice would to be to hire mercenaries...

Amidala gets a look of distaste.

Amidala: And take the time to locate and contract them only to trade one band of roughians for another? Our people are dying Senator. We need to put a stop to it, not merely give it a new face.

Palpatin: I’m sorry, Your Highness. To be realistic, if the Senate will not act on our plea. We will have no choice but to make our defence ourselves.

Amidala: *Determined* Than they will have to be made to act.

Cut to: Ext, day, Jedi Temple. A unique building with it tall spires stands out against the Coruscant skyline. A small transport passes by the vast temple.

Cut to: Int, day, Jedi Temple, Council Chambers. Obi Wan stands in a tall, stately room. Twelve Jedi sit in a semi-circle. The Senior Jedi is Mace Windu. To his left is an alien Jedi named
Ki-Adi-Mundi, a humanoid with a tall, conical head. To the right, the Jedi Master, Yoda.

Obi Wan: ...my only conclusion can be that it was a Sith Lord.

Mace: A Sith Lord?!

Ki-Adi: Impossible! The Sith have been extinct for a millennium.

Mace: I do not believe they could have returned without us knowing.

Yoda: Hard to see, the dark side is. Discover who this assassin is, we must.

Ki-Adi: I sense he will reveal himself again.

Mace: This attack was with purpose, that is clear, but the Queen was not the only target.

Yoda: Indeed. The Jedi, he seeks to fight. More shall be challenged and lost before we seen the end, I fear. *He closes his eyes for a moment, contemplating his own words.* Master Kenobi. With the Naboo queen you must stay. Protect her.

Mace: We will use all our resources here to unravel this mystery and discover the identity of your attacker... May the Force be with you
.
Yoda: May the Force be with you.

Obi Wan does not leave but continues to face the Council.

Yoda: More to say have you, Obi Wan?

Obi Wan: With your permission, my Master. *Pause* I have encountered a convergence in the Force.

Yoda: A convergence, you say?

Mace: Located around a person?

Obi Wan: Yes. He is untrained yet his power in the Force is obvious. I sense a great destiny for him.

Mace: You're referring to the prophesy of the one who will bring balance to the Force...you believe it's this person?

Obi Wan: I don't presume...

Yoda: But you do! Revealed your opinion is.

Obi Wan: I request the boy be trained by you as I was, Master Yoda.

The Jedi all look to one another. They nod and turn back to Obi Wan.

Yoda: Trained as a Jedi, you request for him?

Obi Wan: Finding him was the will of the Force...I have no doubt of that. There is too much happening here...

Mace: Bring him before us, then.

Yoda: Tested he will be.

Cut to: Int, day, Queen’s Quarters. Anakin, tentatively, walks down one of the long hallways in Senator Palpatine's quarters. He stops before a door that is flanked by two guards.

Guard: May I help you?

Anakin: I'm...I'm looking for the handmaiden, Padme.

The guard speaks into his comlink as Anakin looks around a bit nervously.

Guard: The boy is here to see Padme.

Rabe: Send him in.

The doors open, and Anakin enters the Queen's quarters. Rabe greets Anakin as two other servents, these ones not eerie doubles of the Queen, come and go into the next room.

Anakin: I'd like to speak with Padme, if I could.

Rabe: I'm sorry, Anakin. Padme is not here right now.

The Queen speaks out in the next room.

Amidala: *O.S.* Who is it?

Rabe: Anakin Skywalker, to see Padme, Your Highness.

The Queen moves into the doorway and studies Anakin. Anakin bows and looks down, then takes a peek at her and can’t get past the similarity to Padme.

Amidala: We've sent Padme on an errand.

Anakin: I'm going to the Jedi temple to start my training soon, I hope.

The Queen just stares at him.

Anakin: I may not see her again...and... I just wanted to say goodbye.

Amidala: We will tell her for you. We're sure her heart goes with you.

Anakin bows again.

Anakin: Thank you, Your Highness. I'm sorry to have disturbed you.

The Queen disappears behind the doorway, and Anakin exits.

Cut to: Ext, day, Galactic Senate Building. A large, distinctive looking domed building stands out amid the cityscape of Coruscant.

Cut to: Int, day, Senate Building, Main Rotunda. 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, Rabe, and Captain Panaka sit in the Naboo congressional box, which is actually a floating platform. Palpatine leans over to the Queen.

Palpatin: If the Delegates move to defer the motion... Your Majesty, I beg of you to ask for a resolution before the end of this congressional session.

Amidala: I wish I had your confidence in this, Senator.

Palpatin: You must force a new election for Supreme Chancellor. I promise you there are many who will support us. It is our best chance... Your Majesty, our only, chance.

Amidala: You truly believe Chancellor Valorum will not bring our motion to a vote?

Palpatine: He is distracted...he is afraid. He will be of no help.

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 on our peaceful system of Naboo. We have become caught up in the plague you are all well aware of. The ceaseless and senseless attacks of this Marauding Fleet... that this government has been doing little to put a stop to. Now unfortunately, they have stepped beyond their usual tactics and have dared to invade and hold our entire world hostage!

The senate chamber erupts in shock and speculation. A second box rushes into the center of the Senate. It is filled with aliens with smooth, green skin, large eyes and no noses. It is the Trade Federation platform, led by the Senator Lott Dod.

Lott: How can this be true? They have been brazen but have never done such a thing before. Surely we all would have heard of this before now.

Valorum: The Chair does not recognize the Senator from the Trade Federation at this time. Please return to your station.

Lott Dod reluctantly moves back to his place.

Palpatine: To stand as eye witness to the events, I present Queen Amidala, the recently elected ruler of Naboo, to speak on our behalf.

Queen Amidala stands and addresses the assembly. There is some applause.

Amidala: Honourable representatives of the Republic, distinguished delegates, and Your Honour Supreme Chancellor Valorum, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. The Naboo system has been invaded by force. Invaded... against all the laws of the Republic by a Droid Army led by Terrorists and Thieves.

A new voice rings out over the massive chamber. A squat, large-mouthed alien (Tar Bossel) who is the Senator for the powerful core system of Hagros.

Tar: A Droid Army?! That’s absurd! These are Pirates but they aren’t stupid! In fact they’ve shown themselves to be very clever and resourceful. You can’t just field an entire army of droids! There are...

Valorum: Is there a point to this, Senator?

Tar: You Honour, I request that a commission be made to further look into the matter.

Valorum: Overruled.

The Trade Federation box floats forward again to lend aid to Tar’s voice.

Lott: Your Honour, you cannot ask that we commit Republic forces, moving them away from more strategically valuable systems and risking the lives of Republic soldiers before allowing us to become fully appraised of the situation.

A third box representing Malastare moves into the center of the room, the Ambassador (Aks Moe), addresses the convention.

Aks: The Congress of Malastare concurs with the honourable delegate from the Trade Federation. A commission 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 all out to protect their own skins. This is where Chancellor Valorum's strength will disappear.

Valorum: The point is conceded...Section 523A takes precedence here. Queen Amidala of the Naboo, will you defer your motion to allow a commission to investigate?

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.

Valorum: *Shocked* What?...No!

This causes a great stir in the assembly. A loud murmur crescendos into a roar of approval and jeers. Chancellor Valorum is stunned and stands speechless. His Vice Chair, Mas Amedda, takes over.

Amedda: Order! We shall have order...

Assembly: Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!

Palpatine stands next to Amidala.

Palpatine: You see, Your Majaesty, the tide is with us. Valorum will be voted out, I assure you, and they will elect in a new Chancellor, a strong Chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy continue...

Cut to: Ext, sunset, Jedi Temple, Council Chambers.

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.

Yoda: Afraid are you?

Anakin: No.

Mace: Afraid of what is to come?

Anakin: *Slightly defensive* No.

Anakin hesitates for a moment.

Yoda: See through you, we can.

Mace: Be mindful of your feelings...

Ki-Adi: You second guess your decision to leave your home.

Anakin: I’m not sure where I’m going now.

Yoda: Afraid to face the unknown, I think.

Anakin: *A little angry* Maybe I am. So what? What’s that got to do with anything?

Yoda: Everything! Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. *Nods sagely* I sense much fear in you.

Cut to: Int, sunset, Palpatine’s Quarters. Amidala is standing, staring out the window with Jar Jar. The lights of the city shimmer before them. Her handmaidens stand near the door. Owen sits in the background. Jar Jar turns to face the Queen and sees her sadness.

Jar Jar: You believe there is no hope for your people.

Amidala: I don't know.

Jar Jar: That means my people suffer with them.

Amidala: I hope not.

Jar Jar: *Resignedly* The Gungans won’t die without a fight. We’re warriors, my people. We’ve got a grand army. That’s why you don’t like us, I think.

Palpatine and Captain Panaka rush into the room and bow before the Queen.

Panaka: Your Highness, Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed Valorum as Supreme Chancellor.

Palpatine: A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. I promise, Your Majesty, if I am elected, I will bring democracy back to the Republic. I will put an end to corruption, I will free our people and I will put an end to these Marauders.

Amidala: Who else has been nominated?

Panaka: Bail Organa of Alderaan and Ainlee Teem of Malastare.

Palpatine: I feel confident...our "situation" will create a strong sympathy vote for us... I will be Chancellor, I promise you.

Amidala: I fear by the time you have control of the bureaucrats, Senator, there will be nothing left of our cities, our people, our way of life...

Palpatine: I understand your concern, Your Majesty; unfortunately, until the Senate can agree, the military can not take action.

Amidala: There is nothing more I can do here than. Senator, this is your arena. I feel I must return to mine. I have decided to go back to Naboo. My place is fighting for my people.

Palpatine: Go back!! But, Your Majesty, be realistic! You would be in danger. They will surely hold you for ransom to the highest bidder.

Amidala: I am held hostage by their actions already, Senator. *Looks over to Jar Jar and back.* If no one will help us here, we must do something ourselves. Captain!

Panaka: Yes, Your Highness?

Amidala: Ready my ship!

Panaka: Please, Your Majesty, stay here...where it's safe.

Amidala: No place is safe if the Senate will do nothing about this invasion. It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions for its people. If you win the election, Senator, I know you will do everything possible to help us. I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate.

In the background Owen leans his head back and sighs.

Owen: *To himself* Here we go again. Wonderful life you’ve chosen, Annie.

Amidala and her retinue exit the room. Palpatine has a self-satisfied smile on his face.

Cut to: Int, twilight, Jedi Temple, Council Chamber. Obi Wan stands before the Jedi council.

Yoda: ...Correct you were, Obi Wan.

Ki-Adi: The Force is strong with him.

Obi Wan: He's to be trained, then.

The council members look to one another.

Yoda: No. I will not train him.

Obi Wan: No?!

Mace: He is too old. There is already too much anger in him.

Obi Wan: He is the one spoken of in the prophecy...you must see it.

Yoda: Perhaps. But clouded is your judgement, Obi Wan

Mace: We of the light vastly outnumber those of the dark. Why would we wish this balanced?

Obi Wan: What?! You must train him!

Yoda: *Forcefully* My own council will I keep on who is to be trained!

Obi Wan: I will train him myself, then, if you will not. I take Anakin as my Padawan learner.

Yoda’s eyes widen in surprise.

Yoda: Rash you are, young Jedi. What know you of training others?

Mace: We forbid it.

There is an uncomfortable silence as Obi Wan looks impotently from one council member to the next.

Mace: 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 her in great danger.

Yoda: And draw out the Queen's attacker.

Ki-Adi: Events are moving fast...too fast.

Mace: Go with the Queen to Naboo and discover the identity of the dark warrior. That is the clue we need to unravel this mystery of the Sith.

Yoda: May the Force be with you.

Obi Wan, still surprised at their decision, turns and leaves.

Cut To: Ext, night, Senate Landing Platform. Obi Wan, Owen and Anakin stand on the landing platform outside the ship. R2 whistles a happy tune as he leans over the edge of the platform, watching the traffic. Suddenly, he leans over too far and falls overboard. After a moment, he reappears, using his on-board jets to propel himself back onto the landing platform. The wind whips at Anakin as he listens to the Jedi.

Owen: So what’s the verdict?

Obi Wan: *To Anakin* The Jedi Council and Master Yoda have decided that they will not train you.

Anakin: *Crestfallen* Oh.

Obi Wan grabs Anakin by the shoulders and looks into his eyes

Obi Wan: Anakin. You are special. I can sense great things in you. If they are too blind to see that than I will train you myself. But do not fear... You will be trained as a Jedi.

Owen: You’re going to disobey your superiors when they don’t want Anakin trained? I don’t like the sounds of that.

Obi Wan: Let me worry about the council. Now let’s get on board.

Obi Wan and Anakin turn and head for the ramp followed by R2, leaving Owen standing alone, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

Cut to: Int, Naboo yacht, Queen’s Chamber. The Queen sits flanked by her two handmaidens with Jar Jar and Captain Panaka off to one side. A dozen guards have been added for her protection. Obi Wan, Anakin and finally Owen enter.

Obi Wan: Your Highness, it is my pleasure to continue to serve and protect you.

Amidala: I welcome your help. Senator Palpatine fears the worst.

Obi Wan: I promise you, I will not let anything happen.

The camera pans over to Jar Jar and Owen standing together. Jar Jar whispers to Owen.

Jar Jar: Finally. I’m going home.

Owen: I wish I could say the same thing.

Cut to: Int, night, Naboo Palace, Throne Room. Tarkin and Hesperon stand before a hologram of Darth Sidious.

Sidious: The Queen is on her way to you. You should be able to pry the access codes from her with ease.

Tarkin: Our technicians have already cracked the facility mainframe, my Lord. The Queen is of no further use to us.

Sidious: Good work, my friend. When she arrives, kill her. What of your other progress?

Hesperon: The last components of the facility are being loaded into our holds as he speak, my Lord. It will still take some time to complete the transfer.

Sidious: Excellent. You have done well, Captain Tarkin. With the hands of the Republic Navy tied, any forces the Queen can muster will be of little consequence.

Tarkin: *Stroking his chin with a thoughtful smile* Indeed. And the Jedi that was with her?

Sidious: Darth Maul is returning to you. He will deal with the Jedi.

Tarkin: Yes, my Lord.

Darth Sidious fades off.

Tarkin: Ready my shuttle, Commander. I will oversee the final transport of our prize personally. I want you to remain here to greet our guests as they arrive.

Hesperon looks at his superior with dubiousness and slight anger. He doesn’t like what he’s hearing.

Hesperon: Yes, Captain.

Cut to: Int, space, Naboo yacht, cockpit. Anakin stands next to the pilot, Ric Olie, familiarizing himself with the ship’s controls.

Anakin: ...and that one?

Olie: The forward stabilizer.

Anakin: And those control the pitch?

Olie: You catch on pretty quick.

Cut to: Int, yacht, Queen’s Chamber. The handmaidens stand behind Queen Amidala as she talks with Obi Wan and Panaka. Owen and Jar Jar watch.

Panaka: The moment we land the invaders will take you hostage.

Obi Wan: I agree...I'm not sure what you hope to accomplish by this.

Amidala: I'm going to take back what's ours.

Panaka: Where are you going to get the forces for this, Your Highness? We have no army.

Obi Wan: I cannot fight a entire war for you, Your Highness, only protect you.

Amidala: Ambassador Binks!

Jar Jar looks up knowingly.

Jar Jar: Yes, Your Highness?

Amidala: I need your help.

Cut to: Int, day, yacht, cockpit. The Naboo Cruiser heads toward the lush green planet. The fleet of battleships still orbits but is shifting.

Panaka: We still have to get back through that blockade.

Olie: Look at the scopes. Some of the ships are shifting out of position, moving off. It looks they’re going to jump to lightspeed.

Obi Wan: Make for that location. We’ll use the confusion to get through.

Panaka: They've probably spotted us.

Obi Wan: We haven't much time.

Cut to: Ext, space, yacht. The sleek Naboo ship rockets through the shifting blockade amid a hail of enemy fire. Bolts deflect off of the shields in all locations.

Cut to: Int, yacht, Main Hold. Jar Jar sits with Owen and Anakin as the ship begins to shudder violently. Anakin is looking excited, trying to find a window, Owen is trying to grab on to something and Jar Jar is once again looking sick.

Jar Jar: Oh no. Not again.

Owen: *To Anakin* And this is what you want to do with your life?

The Gungan gets up and rushes to the cockpit to see where they are.

Cut to: Int, yach, cockpit. Jar Jar enters to see an ever growing green orb obscured by red energy bolts. He looks at the planet confused.

Jar Jar: This isn’t home?

Panaka: You’re looking at it upside-down.

Jar Jar twists his long neck and leans over. Recognition dawns on his face before another shudder nearly knocks him from his feet. The planet looms through the front windshield as they enter the atmosphere.

Copilot: We need to find a place to land.

Jar Jar looks over at the man and notices the small planet of Naboo on his screen. He points to a specific location.

Jar Jar: There! Land the ship as close as you can to there.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo, wilderness. The yacht glides over the treetops and comes to a stop before dropping into the foliage. All the while it is being harassed by four droid fightercraft.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo wilderness, outside the yacht. The ramp opens on the yacht as the droid fighters streak back and forth in the sky, cutting away at the forest. The twelve new guards come pouring out of the ship, firing their blasters. Two of the men carry large shoulder-mounted weapons. They fire and one hits a fighter, sending it smoking to the ground. They fire again under the cover of the other guards, whose weapons are doing nothing to the fighters, and score another hit.

Obi Wan, Panaka and Jar Jar stand at the ship entrance.

Panaka: We can’t stay here long. They’ll have sent in our position.

Jar Jar: The forest is too dense for them to see through very well from above. They shouldn’t be able to track our movements if we’re careful.

Panaka: How can you be sure?

Jar Jar: Because you never have.

A string of blaster bolts tears along the ground from above, sending the defenders diving. Another two shots from the large weapons and another fighter is destroyed. Jar Jar pulls off his long ambassadorial robes until he is back down to the pants and sleeveless shirt.

Jar Jar: Our Stronghold shouldn’t be to far that way. *Points* I’ll rush ahead to inform my people of your arrival so they don’t shoot at you. Follow behind as soon as you can.

Jar Jar runs for the trees and disappears in seconds. When the last droid fighter is downed everyone rushes from the ship. The guards follow last.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo swamp. Obi Wan , Anakin and Owen walk together as the group makes their way through the forest following the directions Jar Jar gave them.

Obi Wan: Jar Jar is on his way to the Gungan refuge.

Owen: Do you think the Queen's idea will work?

Obi Wan: The Gungans will not easily be swayed.

Anakin: Can’t you just use a mind trick on them?

Obi Wan: Their leaders will certainly not be weak-minded. It will not work. And even so, I would not force them into a battle against their will.

Anakin: Oh.

Obi Wan: Be mindful of your impulses, Anakin. A Jedi does not use the Force as a means to control others.

Anakin: Yes, Obi Wan.

Owen smacks Anakin in the back of the head.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo swamp. The group stops as they come across Jar Jar standing in their path. He is accompanied by seven powerful looking Gungans riding large, bipedal creatures with duck-like bills called Kaadus. Each one carries a long spear that crackles with electricity at the tip. One of the seven (Captain Tarpals) looks older than the rest. He is greying and has long, thick, skin tubules hanging from his upper bill.

Tarpals: *In Gungan* This them?

Jar Jar: *to the group* This is it. We will follow the riders in and be taken to the Boss. Remember, your kind typically isn’t welcome. Especially here.

Tarpals’ kaadu grunts as it is turned around.


Cut to: Ext, day, Gungan stronghold. The group is led through the thick, gated walls of an ancient temple. The complex is thousands of years old and the buildings proper rise high into the trees but never over them. Some trees have even taken hold up the sides of the structures, giving watchmen even greater purchase over the rest of the forest. Gungan refugees fill the courtyard inside the walls. At the far end, the grand temple is submerging into a swamp lake. Massive Gungan statues lay in ruins here and there. On a three-quarters submerged head, a group of Gungans (Boss Nass and his council) watches the arrival.

Boss Nass: *In Gungan.* We’re glad to see you alive Jar Jar but you should never have brought these Naboo here.

Queen Amidala steps forward. Captain Panaka and Obi Wan stand behind her.

Amidala: I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo. I come before you in peace.

Boss Nass rolls his eyes.

Boss Nass: Naboo kweena! Tink yous so smarty! Yous bringen da Mackineeks on us! Ebry ting eena terrible mess! Yous all shoo die, me tinks.

Captain Panaka, Owen and the guards and pilots look around nervously as the Gungan troops lower their long power poles. Obi Wan stays relaxed. Anakin watches everything with great interest.

Amidala: We wish to form an alliance against...

Suddenly, Padme steps forward.

Padme: Your Honour...

R2 whistles a quiet "uh oh."

Boss Nass: *To Jar Jar* Whosa dis?

Padme: I am Queen Amidala *points to Queen* This is my decoy...my protection...my loyal bodyguard.

Anakin looks to Obi Wan stunned while the Jedi only smiles knowingly.

Padme: I am sorry for my deception, but under the circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honour, our two great societies have been making great inroads to peace...until now. The outside forces behind these machines have destroyed all that we have been working so hard to build. You are in hiding, my people are in camps. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever...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 the Naboo.

Padme: We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands.

Slowly, the Naboo bow down before the Gungan Council. Then the handmaidens, Anakin and Owen, and finally the Obi Wan. The Gungans are puzzled by this. Boss Nass begins to laugh.

Boss Nass: Yousa no tinken yous greater den da Gungans.. Me like dis. Maybe wes listen.

Cut to: Int, day, Naboo Palace, Throne Room. Hesperon and Darth Maul walk with a hologram of Darth Sidious.

Hesperon: ...we've sent out patrols. We've already located their starship in the swamp. It won't be long, My Lord.

Sidious: This is unexpected. Lord Maul, be mindful.

Maul: Yes, my Master.

Sidious: Be patient... Let them make the first move.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo, edge of swamp and grasslands. A Gungan sentry sits on top of the ancient temple head, searching the landscape with a pair of binoculars. He sees something and yells down to Anakin at the foot of the statue.

Gungan: Daza comen!

Anakin runs over to Padme and Obi Wan, who are discussing a battle plan with five Gungan Generals around a large holographic image projected by R2. The handmaidens stand nearby. Boss Nass and Jar Jar are walking up to the group.

Boss Nass: *In Gungan* You’ve done well bringing the Naboo together with us, Jar Jar.

Jar Jar: *In Gungan* Well I really didn’t...

Boss Nass: *In Gungan* The time for talk is over, however. Now is the time for action.

Jar Jar: Action?

Boss Nass: *In Gungan* Yes! We need everyone for this battle!

Jar Jar: Battle! No no...

The camera leaves Jar Jar to his misery and pans over as four speeders pull up to the group. Captain Panaka and a dozen or so guards and pilots pile out and join the group.

Padme: What is the situation?

Panaka: Almost everyone's in camps. A few hundred police and guards have formed an underground movement. I brought as many of the leaders as I could. The Droid 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 city so that we can sneak in using the secret passages here and here.

The Gungan Generals glance at one another.

Jar Jar: We know where the passages are.

Padme looks a little taken aback but continues.

Padme: Once we get to the main entrance, Captain Panaka will create a diversion, so that we can enter the palace and capture the leader of this invasion. With their command at our mercy, we will force them to stand down and withdraw.

Obi Wan looks on with interest.

Padme: What do you think, Master Jedi?

Obi Wan: The Commanders will be well guarded.

Panaka: The difficulty's finding them in the Palace. Once we've done that, we shouldn't have a problem.

Obi Wan: Many Gungans will be killed with this diversion as well.

Boss Nass: Wesa ready to do are-sa part.

Standing quietly to the side, Owen speaks up.

Owen: What about orbital bombardment? There are still a lot of ships up there.

Panaka gives Owen a look, wondering how this farmboy could dare question their plans.

Panaka: The resistance informs us that our fighters have been so far left untouched. They are getting all available pilots they can find into position around the hangers as we speak. When the droids are drawn from the cities and the signal is given, the pilots will storm the hangers and launch.

Padme: Hopefully they will be able to cause enough chaos to distract the ships orbiting the planet and with any luck destroy a few in the process.

Obi Wan: Very risky. The weapons on your fighters may not penetrate the shields on the blockade ships.

Owen: And if these Commanders escape, you have nothing. Their army will continue to fight.

Padme: That is why we must not fail to get to their Command. Everything depends on it.

Wow... that's... wow. Good work. That's very long.

Excellant. Why do the Trade Fed. interven in the sneate though? I though the attack forces you had weren't Trade Fed any more...

Crazedwraith wrote:Excellant. Why do the Trade Fed. interven in the sneate though? I though the attack forces you had weren't Trade Fed any more...

They're still still political assholes. I needed to show that people didn't want to act because of their own interests and they were good for that. It could easily have been someone else.

It's much better than the original. Oh, and I take it we're supposed to assume that Qui-Gon got hacked by Darth Maul in the opening five minutes?

Singular Quartet wrote:It's much better than the original. Oh, and I take it we're supposed to assume that Qui-Gon got hacked by Darth Maul in the opening five minutes?

He valiantly gave his life to hold off the enemy so that others may live. Yes, Maul hacked him to bits. Again, he could have been any generic Jedi, I just used the name from the movie.

Hmm, I suppose since we (technically) didn't know him, we couldn't really give him a heroic death... ah, well.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed Palace, Throne Room. Hesperon, Darth Maul and a Droid Commander walk through the room with a hologram of Darth Sidious, projected from a device with mechanical, spider-like legs.

Sidious: ...she is more foolish than I thought.

Hesperon: We are sending all available troops to meet this army of hers assembling near the swamp. It appears to be made up of primitives. We do not expect much resistance.

Sidious: Proceed. Wipe them out. All of them.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo swamp. All is peaceful. A thick mist hangs over everything. Small creatures drink out of tiny pools scattered here and there. Suddenly, like a ghost, a Gungan soldier riding a kaadu materializes. As he becomes more clear, other riders appear from the haze. The scene pulls back up, out of the swamp until the tree line and the grasslands are seen. As far as the eye can see, Gungan soldiers emerge from the treeline.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo grassland. Gungan soldiers ride a huge, lizard-like fambaa with a large shield generator mounted on its back. The camera pulls back to reveal them following a long line of hundreds of Gungans marching and riding kaadus. Other fambaas are seen here and there towering over those on foot. The army marches toward the rolling hills on the horizon.

Tanks move up to a ridge and stop. In the distance they see the Gungan army marching toward them.

The Gungan General Ceel sees the tanks on the ridge and orders a halt. The Gungans are spread out in a large line. Jar Jar is nervous. General Ceel signals to the shield operators.

Ceel: Energize the shields.

A red ray shoots out of the generator and blasts into a large dish on the back of a second fambaa and spreads like an umbrella over the assembled warriors.

Cut to: Ext, day, Theed, Central Plaza. Padme, followed by the decoy Queen (Eitrae), Obi Wan, Owen, Anakin, and R2, stealthily makes her way toward the entrance to the main hanger. They are followed by about twenty Naboo guards, pilots and troops. They stop, and Padme uses a small red laser light to signal across the plaza to Captain Panaka, Rabe and twenty other assorted Naboo troops. They signal back. Owen leans over to Anakin.

Owen: Don’t do anything rash now. Stay close so we can cover each other.

Anakin smiles devilishly

Owen: *More to himself* What the hell did you get me into?

Droid troops mill about the tank-filled plaza. At the far end, several droids begin to run and fire. Naboo soldiers begin to fire back at the battledroids. As the ruckus erupts at one end of the plaza, Padme and her troops rush into the main hanger. Captain Panaka and his troops continue to engage the droids outside.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed Hanger. Alarms are sounding as Padme and her team rush into the hanger. Battle droids begin firing at them as they run for cover. Anakin and Owen run behind a Naboo fighter. Obi Wan deflects as many bolts as he can back at the droids, causing them to explode one by one.

Cut to: Int, day, Palace, Throne Room. Commander Hesperon, Darth Maul and four subordinates watch the plaza battle on a large view screen.

Hesperon: It looks like this is the first move.

Darth Maul sneers and turns in a flurry of black cloak. He stalks out of the room.

Hesperon turns to his subordinates.

Hesperon: Draw troops back to flush them out and destroy them. *Pause* I want the Queen alive though. We can get a great price for her.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo Grasslands. The droid tanks begin to fire on the Gungans, but they are protected by their energy shield. The tanks stop firing, and the Gungans cheer, until they see the doors to the massive transports open. Racks of battledroids, arms and legs folded up for storage, extend out and are deposited on the ground. The battledroids reconfigure into their standing position. The Gungans get ready for an attack. The droid commander gives the command to move forward, and thousands of droids march toward the Gungans.

The Gungans power up their weapons and personal shields as the droids slowly march toward the protective shield. Contacting the shield at an angle and moving slowly, they manage to push through. Once inside, the droids start firing. The front line of Gungans with shields deflect most of the blaster bolts back at the droid army. Gungans behind the front shoot lances of lightning from their power poles burning and shorting out the droids they hit. Some droids explode where they stand. Other warriors dump large glowing blue balls into catapults and fling them at the ranks of battledroids. When the balls hit, they explode into an electrified, acidic goo, eating away at their targets as well as causing them to short. Whole rows of droids fall to these massive projectiles.

The battle rages and the Gungans defend their shield generators against the army of droids. The droid commander watches from a tank on a hill overlooking the battle.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed Hanger. Anakin hides behind one of the Naboo fighters, ducking as large bolts whiz past and explode near him. He and Owen fire back whenever they can. Padme and Obi Wan destroy battledroids right and left. The Queen’s troops and Eitrae also blast away at the droids. Padme signals to her pilots.

Padme: Get to your ships!

The pilots and R2 units run for the Naboo fighter craft stacked in the hanger bay. The pilots jump into the cockpits as the R2 units are pulled up from under the ships into small compartments behind them. R2-D2 mans the fighter that Anakin and Owen are using for cover but finds that it has no pilot. The ships begin to levitate out of the hanger amid battledroid fire as they fall in line. R2 whistles forlornly as he is left behind.

Anakin looks at the fighters leaving and then at the empty ship in front of him. R2 tweets again for above. Owen grabs Anakin’s shoulder.

Owen: Don’t even think about it.

Cut to: Ext, day, Theed, Central Plaza. A flight of Naboo starfighters exit the main hanger. A tank fires at them, hitting one of them, causing it to pinwheel into the ground and explode.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed, Hanger. Captain Panaka, Rabe and Naboo troops rush into the hanger and overwhelm the few remaining battledroids. Padme, Obi Wan, and their troops join forces with Panaka.

Padme: My guess is they’re leading from the throne room.

She looks to Obi Wan who pauses for a moment.

Obi Wan: I agree.

They start to head for the exit, on the way passing the fighter that Anakin and Owen are using for cover. R2 whistles a greeting as Anakin peeps out from behind the craft.

Obi Wan: Come on, you two.

They head for the exit. As they are about to go through the door, suddenly everyone scatters, revealing Darth Maul once again in their midst. Captain Panaka, Padme, and her troops back away. Obi Wan steps forward.

Obi Wan: I'll' handle this...

The Jedi takes off his cloak and ignite his lightsabre. Darth Maul wastes no time and in a whirl his cloak is off and his lightsabre is ignited. Both ends of the weapon come to life as its master leaps for his enemy.

At the far end of the hanger, six destroyer droids roll in and transform into their battle position. R2 calls everyone’s attention to the droids. The Jedi begins to fight the Sith Lord at lightning speed..

Owen: Just great.

The droids begin to advance and start firing.

Anakin rushes to the lone remaining Naboo fighter.

Owen: Anakin! No!

Anakin ignores his friend and climbs in. Owen is cut off from following by blaster fire.

Anakin: We gotta do something, Artoo.

R2 whistles a reply. Suddenly, the ship's systems go on, and the ship begins to levitate.

Anakin: All right! I'll take over. Let's see...

Anakin steers the ship toward the destroyer droids. He pushes a button, and the ship begins to shake.

Anakin: Where's the trigger? Oops, wrong one.. Maybe this one....

Anakin pushes a second button, and the blasters begin to fire, wiping out several destroyer droids. R2 whistles a cheer.

The Obi Wan is engaged in a fierce sword fight with Maul. They have moved into the center of the hanger. While the destroyer droids are momentarily distracted by Anakin, Captain Panaka, Padme, and her troops exit into a palace hallway. The remaining destroyer droids start firing at them and Anakin. Owen stops for a moment, caught between his friend and his own safety.

Padme: Owen, come on!

Explosions pop all around Anakin’s cockpit.

Anakin: Oops...shield up! Always on the right...shields always on the right.

Anakin flips several switches, and the after-burner ignites. R2 begins to whistle sharply.

Anakin: I know we're moving. Shut it down!

The fighter rockets out of the hanger. R2 and Anakin hold on for dear life. Owen is left standing there watching his friend disappear. An explosion brings him back to reality and he rushes to join the others.

Cut to: Int, day, starfighter cockpit. Anakin is looking confused. R2 beeps.

Anakin: I'm not doing anything!

R2 beeps.

Anakin: I know! I didn't push anything.

Cut to: Int, day, Thees Palace. The Sith Lord’s moves are incredible. He is fighting Obi Wan with ease, toying with him. He flips into the air, outmanoeuvring him at every turn. He is clearly controlling the fight.

Cut to: Int, space, starfighter. The Naboo fleet leaves the planet from dozens of locations and heads toward the blockade.

Olie: Flights A, B, and C, take on the fighters. The rest of you, do what you can with those big guys.

B Leader: Roger, Alpha Leader.

The fleet approaches the Marauders. Droid fighters exit hanger bays all over the blockade and attack. The Naboo are vastly outnumbered.

Olie: Enemy fighters straight ahead!

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo grasslands. Jar Jar is fighting for his life along side his fellow Gungans. He blasts away with his power pole, sending one droid after another smoking to the ground. A barrage of return fire comes his way and he dives to the ground and rolls. Small explosions follow him as he rolls. He stops with his arms covering his head and stays perfectly still. A destroyer droid rolls by, causing Jar Jar to look up. The machine unfolds with its back to him so he blasts it with his spear. In the background another destroyer droid is mowing down Gungans with its double cannons.

Cut to: Int, space, starfighter. A giant dogfight ensues. Anakin’s fighter flies into space above Naboo. R2 beeps a worried concern.

Anakin: *Frightened* The Autopilot is searching for what other ships?!

R2 beeps and whistles.

Anakin: There IS no manual override, R2. You'll have do something.

R2 chirps that he's trying.

Anakin: Look! There they are! That's where the autopilot is taking us.

Anakin’s fighter flies toward the blockade.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed hanger. The Sith Lord drives the Jedi out of the hanger and into the power generator area next door, using the Force to fling a piece of debris at the opening mechanism to a massive set of doors.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed Power Generator Pit. Glowing blades are crossed in an intense display of swordmanship. The Jedi and the Sith fight their way across the narrow bridge of the Theed power generator. Darth Maul jumps onto the bridge above them. Obi Wan follows swiftly after, landing behind the Sith. Maul blocks a chop to his back and spins around to face his enemy. The battle continues.

Cut to: Int, day, Palace hallway. Padme, Panaka, Eitrae, Rabe, Owen and the troops are trapped in a hallway by battledroids.

Padme: We don't have time for this, Captain.

Panaka: Let's try outside.

Captain Panaka blasts a hole in the window, and they make their way outside the building onto a ledge about six stories above the ground. Rabe, Eitrae and about twenty Naboo soldiers stay in the hallway to hold off the battledroids.

Cut to: Ext, day Theed Palace. Padme. Panaka, Owen, and about ten other soldiers are lined up along the edge. They have pulled small attachments out of their pistols and fire at a ledge about four stories above them. Thin cables shoot out of the pistols and are embedded into the ledge. The team begin to climb up the wall.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo grasslands. The Gungan Army is no match for the droids. Everyone is starting to run from the destroyers.

Ceel: Fall back! Reform the line!

The Gungans begin to turn and run, on foot, on their kaadu, and in wagons, to reposition their shield men. Another volley of energy balls is flung at the droid ranks and many are destroyed.

Cut to: Int, space, starfighter. Anakin finds himself in the middle of the space battle. A ship explodes behind him (over his left shoulder).

Anakin: Whoo, boy!

He looks forward to see enemy ships approaching head on.

Anakin: Uh oh. R2, get us off Autopilot!

R2 screams a reply.

Anakin: I've got control?

Anakin fips switches.

Anakin: Okay, let's see what we can do.

He moves the controls left and the ship responds, turning left.

Anakin: Yes...I've got control. You did it, R2!

R2 beeps

Anakin: Go back!? Easier said than done! Now c'mon!

An enemy fighter comes into his sights. Anakin pushes the controls and instead of firing, his fighter accelerates past the enemy ship.

Anakin: Whoa!

Now the enemy ship is on his tail. He tries evasive manoeuvers, rolling the ship as R2 screams desperately.

Anakin: I know we're in trouble! Hang on!

R2 beeps a reply.

Anakin: Which one? This one?

Anakin yanks on the reverse thrusters and the ship slows instantly- the enemy fighter shoots past and explodes against another spaceship.

Cut to: Int, space, Starfighter. The squadron attacks the blockade.

Olie: Gamma flight...go for the central bridge.

G Leader: Roger, Alpha Leader.

Explosions ripple across the larger ship’s shields. The attack is fruitless.

G Leader: Their deflector shield is too strong. We'll never get through it.

Meanwhile, Anakin is being chased by another fighter. R2 shrieks.

Anakin: I know, R2! This isn't Podracing!

The enemy ship fires and hits Anakin's fighter, sending it into a spin. R2 screams.

Anakin: We're hit!

Anakin regains control of his ship to find it heading straight for the massive barrel of a ship cannon.

Anakin: What the...

Anakin’s ship dodges the huge muzzle at the last second and flies right at an oncoming wing of droid fighters. R2 is screaming.

Anakin: I'm trying! I'm trying! Whoa!

The droid fighters are cut down by two Naboo fighters. Anakin hits his trigger just in time to destroy a droid fighter still heading right for him. He immerges through the explosion cloud and veers off. His control panel is lighting up with warnings. R2 gives out a worried whistle.

Anakin: All right! All right! Do what you can!

Anakin looks around worriedly for anymore enemies.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed Generator Pit. The sword battle continues on the small catwalk around the vast power pit. Darth Maul kicks Obi Wan off one of the ramps and he falls several levels. The Sith jumps right after and lands lightly next the Jedi’s fingers, sneering. Obi Wan immediately swings over to another catwalk, a level lower, and readies his lightsabre. He is sweating and breathing heavily.

The Sith Lord launches his double-bladed weapon at Obi Wan, sending it spinning with incredible speed. He guides what now looks like a glowing red disk with his outstretched hand. Obi Wan dodges the projectile once and turns to follow its path. Maul then thrusts out his other hand and Force pushes Obi Wan, who only narrowly escapes falling by grabbing the edge and flipping around, under the catwalk, and back over the other side. The spinning weapon comes back as Obi Wan is backing away along the catwalk toward a small door. He deflects it with his lightsabre and puts his back to the doorway. Maul jumps down to the same level and catches his lightsabre with a flourish.

Obi Wan motions to the door mechanism and the door slides away from his back. As soon as he feels it open he bolts down the hallway on the other side. Above the door, alien lettering lights up a warning.

Cut to: Int, Theed Generator Pit, Hallway. Obi Wan enters a long hallway followed by the Sith Lord. At regular intervals along the wall are forcefield generators. As Darth Maul chases Kenobi, an alarm sounds and the forcefields are activated, separating the two combatants and stopping both from further progress. Behind Kenobi, the hall ends in a small chamber with a deep shaft in the center. A massive gout of gas erupts from the shaft, filling the chamber and bombarding the forcefield. They must now wait until the deadly gas venting is complete. Obi Wan de-activates his lightsabre and stands, passively eyeing Maul. The Sith tests the field with his weapon and begins pacing back and forth, an evil grin of anticipation on his face.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed Palace, Hallway to Throne Room. A window blasts apart. Padme and the others climb into the hallway and open fire on the battledroids standing guard. When the path is clear the team heads for the door to the throne room. Suddenly, two destroyer droids skitter in front of the door. Padme turns around and sees two more appear at the far end of the hallway, trapping them in the middle.

Padme throws down her pistol and turns to Panaka.

Padme: Throw down your weapons. They have us.

Panaka: But we can't....

Padme: Captain, I said throw down your weapons.

Panaka and his men throw down their weapons.

Cut to: Ext, day. Naboo grasslands. A destroyer droid blasts one of the shield generators, causing it to explode. The protective shield begins to weaken and fall apart. The droid commander sees the shield weaken and orders his tanks forward. The Gungan General signals a retreat as the tanks enter the battle.

The Gungans flee as fast as they can for the swamps. Jar Jar tries to jump onto the back of a wagon filled with energy ball but only succeeds in pulling the back hatch open and spilling the balls. He manages to dodge the deadly projectiles, now bouncing across the field but many droids and tanks are not so lucky. A riderless kaadu is charging past and Jar Jar manages to grab its reigns and jump on but ends up going in the wrong direction.

Jar Jar: Oh no.

Jar Jar looks back at the tree line shrinking away and doesn’t see that he’s heading straight for a tank. The tank is aiming its barrel off to the side and as Jar Jar looks back ahead he only has a split second before he runs right into it. The kaadu keeps running but Jar Jar is left dangling from the barrel. Soon the tank begins to aim in another direction, the turret rotates and Jar Jar is deposited on the tank’s main body.

Captain Tarpals rides up on a kaadu and pulls a small version of the energy balls from a pouch.

Tarpals: Jar Jar!

Tarpals passes the ball to Jar Jar who tosses it at a droid that is just immerging from the turret. The droid shorts out and explodes and the tanks begins to veer to one side. Jar Jar jumps onto Captain Tarpals’ kaadu and they ride off as the tank digs a deep swath in the ground.

Explosions are everywhere. The scene is chaos.

Cut to: Int, day, Theed Generator, Vent Hallway. The shields hum as Obi Wan stands patiently regarding Darth Maul. The Sith continues to pace. The room behind Kenobi is clear, the alarm ceases and the hallway shields begin to de-activate one by one. When the wall between Obi Wan and Maul opens, Obi Wan is fighting the Dark Lord in a split second, with a ferocity not seen before. They move into the area at the end of the corridor and continue their battle on the ledge around the shaft. As they step into the circular room warning lights begin to flash and the rooms processes are automatically halted.

Obi Wan and Darth Maul battle around the seemingly bottomless shaft, matching each other’s moves until Maul sidekicks Kenobi across the room with a sharp laugh.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo grassland. The Gungans have been overrun. Some flee into the hills, chased by battledroids on hovering platforms. Many others are herded into groups by battledroids and destroyer droids. Jar Jar, Captain Tarpals and General Ceel are held in a small group with other Gungans.

Ceel: *In Gungan* I hope this is working for the Queen.

Cut to: Int, day, Palace Throne Room. Padme, Panaka, Owen and six soldiers are brought by ten battledroids before Commander Hesperon, four subordinates and a hologram of Captain Tarkin.

Tarkin: Your little insurrection is at an end, Your Highness. It’s all quite pointless, you know. We already have what we came for.

The hologram winks out.

Hesperon: *To a subordinate* Bind her and take her to the last shuttle. Kill the rest.

Eitrae, dressed like the Queen, appears in the doorway with several troops. Destroyed battle droids can be seen in the distance.

Eitrae: I won’t be going anywhere, scum. You’ve lost!

The pirates are stunned to see a second Queen. Hesperon yells at the droids in the room.

Hesperon: After her! This one’s a decoy!

Six of the droids rush out of the throne room after Eitrae. Hesperon turns to Padme.

Hesperon: Your Queen will not get away.

Padme slumps down on her throne and immediately hits a security button that opens a panel in the arm. She grabs two pistols, tosses one of them to Panaka and one to a soldier. She takes a third pistol and they blast the last of the battledroids. In the confusion Owen punches a distracted Hesperon, sending him to the floor.

The soldiers rush to the door control panel as Padme hits the switch to close the door. The soldier at the door jams the controls while the rest of the men are taking the blasters from the downed droids. The Marauders are quickly subdued.

Padme: *Pointing her gun down at Hesperon.* Now, this ends.

Hesperon: *Laughs* There are too few of you. It won't be long before hundreds of destroyer droids break in to rescue us.

Cut to: Int, day, Venting Shaft. Obi Wan and Darth Maul face off from across the room. Both swing their blades casually as they size each other up yet again. As one, they both charge. The Dark Lord is relentless in his assault on the young Jedi. Obi Wan and Darth Maul use the Force to push at each other as they fight. Maul seems to have the upper hand and pushes the Jedi further and further back. Suddenly, Obi Wan attacks in a flurry of thrusts and slashes, cutting Maul’s weapon in half and leaving him with only one blade. Maul doubles his efforts and soon forces Obi Wan over the edge and into the shaft. The Jedi is barely able to hold onto a nozzle on the side of the pit. Darth Maul grins evilly as he kicks Obi Wan’s lightsabre down the endless shaft.

The Sith Lord smiles as he goes in for the kill. At the last moment, Obi Wan jumps up out of the shaft, flips over Maul and kicks him in the back, sending him plummeting down. The Jedi watches, exhausted, as his enemy disappears.

Cut to: Int, space, Naboo starfighter. Anakin streaks over the hull of a pirate ship, firing torpedoes into it indiscriminately.

Anakin: This is getting us nowhere.

He pulls a tight roll and turns sharply around a tower, throwing a droid fighter off his tail. He fires his blasters but they are still not getting through the bigger ships’ shields.

Anakin: I’m taking us out of here before we get killed.

R2 squawks angrily.

Anakin: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Anakin turns the fighter sharply away before it hits the side of a ship and ends up facing deep space. Before his eyes, the screen fills with gigantic grey wedges popping out of hyperspace. They start spewing green energy bolts at the Marauders and friendly fire streaks all round Anakin.

Anakin: I hope they’re on our side!

R2 whistles.

Anakin: No. This is definitely not Podracing.

Cut to: Int, space, starfighter. Ric Olie watches overjoyed as the cavalry arrives. Clouds of fighters are released from the Republic battleships as they close in on the blockade. The Marauders immediately break formation and start jumping to lightspeed amid the rain of turbolaser fire. Ships disappear in huge explosions left and right under the onslaught.

B Two: The Republic! They came!

Olie: It’s about time.

B Three: We’re saved!

Cheering can be heard over the comm as Republic fighters whip past at top speed after the droid fighters.

Cut to: Ext, day, Naboo grasslands. Suddenly, a rumbling is heard off in the distance. The droids look up in the sky in time to see gunboats descending. Some of the craft attack the tanks and armoured transports, others sweep the landscape, gunning down the droids, and the rest land, expelling armoured troopers. The rescue happens with such speed and intensity that the Gungans have no chance to do anything accept raise their hands even higher and stay even more still.. Jar Jar’s eyes are wide with shock and he holds his arms up as high as they can go.

Jar Jar: I give up!

Fade out.

Fade in: Ext, day, Main Courtyard. The large, grand cruiser of the Supreme Chancellor lands in the courtyard of the main hanger. Captain Panaka and twenty troopers guard Hesperon and his men. Kenobi, the Queen, and her handmaidens stand before the Pirates.

Padme: Now, the galaxy can finally see justice done.

Panaka: And your friends won’t be far behind you.

The main ramp of the cruiser is lowered as Hesperon and his men are led toward the ship. The Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and several Republic guards descend the walkway, followed by Yoda and several other Jedi Masters.

Chancellor Palpatine is greeted by the Queen.

Amidala: Congratulations on your election, Chancellor. And it is so good to see you again in such a timely manor.

Palpatine: It's good to be home. And good to see it freed, Your Majesty. Together we shall bring peace and prosperity to the Republic.

Obi Wan greets Yoda and the other Jedi as Panaka takes the captives onto the cruiser.

Cut to: Int, late day, Palace Turret Room. The sun streams into the multi-windowed room at a low angle. It is not quite sunset. Yoda paces before Obi Wan, who is kneeling in the center of the room.

Yoda: Your stubbornness on this matter, the Council well knows. Allowed you are to take the boy as your Padawan learner... But agree with this decision, I still do not.

Obi Wan: He is powerful. He must to trained. With the approval of the Council or not.

Yoda’s eyes widen at the presumptuousness but slowly close in thought.

Yoda: The Chosen One the boy may be; nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training.

Obi Wan starts to speak again but is cut off by Yoda’s raised hand.

Yoda: Better his training be within our watch than without. Your apprentice, young Skywalker shall be.

Cut to: Ext, night, Palace balcony. The Jedi Council stands with Obi Wan, Anakin, Owen, Sio Bibble, Captain Panaka, Amidala and Palpatine looking out over the twinkling lights of the city.

Amidala: ...Access codes, Governor? They wanted access codes to the Royal Cloning Facility’s main computer?

Bibble: Yes, Your Majesty. They were quite intent on acquiring them.

Panaka: That’s not all, Your Majesty. *He pauses, unsure* It’s the Royal Cloning Facility... It’s been taken. Everything. All one hundred tanks. It’s totally gone.

Palpatine: Totally gone? But Your Majesty, this whole ordeal could not possibly have been to steal the Cloning Facility...

To one side, Mace Windu turns to Yoda.

Mace: There is no doubt. The mysterious warrior was a Sith.

Yoda: Always two there are....no more...no less. A master and an apprentice.

Mace: But which one did Obi Wan face, the master or the apprentice?

They give each other a concerned look.

Anakin: Can I at least stay here or do I have to go back to Tatooine?

Obi Wan: You will come with me and become a Jedi. The Council has finally agreed.

Anakin’s face splits in a huge grin. He hugs Obi Wan and Owen. Owen tries to be happy for his friend.

Owen: You can have it. Will someone at least take ME home?

Cut to: Ext, day, Theed Central Plaza. Children sing and throw flowers on the passing Gungan soldiers. The crowds cheer. It is a grand parade. Queen Amidala stands next to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin, Obi Wan, Owen, Sio Bibble, and the Jedi Council. R2 stands in front of the Queen’s handmaidens and whistles at the parade. Queen Amidala and Palpatine smile at one another.

At the head of the parade are Boss Nass and his guards, Jar Jar and General Ceel. The Gungans ride kaadus and fambaas. They stop before the Queen and walk up the steps to stand by her side. Boss Nass holds up the Globe of Peace. Everyone Cheers.

Iris Out

End titles

Better than the original.

You know what you have to do now? A re-write of ep2 so it fits with your new episode 1...

darthdavid wrote:You know what you have to do now? A re-write of ep2 so it fits with your new episode 1...

There wouldn't be that much he had to change. Just the Tatoienne scenes.

darthdavid wrote:You know what you have to do now? A re-write of ep2 so it fits with your new episode 1...

Working on it.

Awwww yeah.

Dude... that was so much better than the original...