Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Page #11

ANAKIN :
What did he mean by that?

QUI-GON :
I'll tell you later.

ARTOO beeps at THREEPIO.

THREEPIO :
Oh my! Space travel sounds rather perilous.

ARTOO emits a series of beeps.

THREEPIO :
I can assure you they will never get me onto one of those

dreadful starships!

KITSTER :
(to Anakin) This is so wizard! I'm sure you'll do it this time,

Annie.

PADME :
Do what?

KITSTER :
Finish the race, of course!

PADME :
You've never won a race?

ANAKIN :
Well...not exactly...

PADME :
Not even finished?!

ANAKN looks sheepish.

ANAKIN :
...but Kitster's right, I will this time.

QUI-GON :
Of course you will.

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - DAY

One of Darth Maul's PROBE DROIDS slowly floats down the main street of

Tatooine. It looks in shops and studies PEOPLE as it searches for OBI-WAN,

QI-GON, or the QUEEN.

EXT. MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY

An EXTREME HIGH WIDE ANGLE reveals a vast arena in the Tatooine desert. A

large semi-circular amphitheatre that holds at least a hundred thousand

people dominates the landscape. Large viewing platforms loom over the

racetrack. INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY (FX)

A two-headed ANNOUNCER describes the scene.

FODE/BEED :
-

A:
Toogi! Toogie! (Greetings) Toong mee cha kulkah du Boonta magi! tah oos

azalus ooval Poddraces. (We have perfect weather today for the Boonta

classic. The most hazardous of all Podraces.)

B :
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.

EXT. MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY

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.

FODE/BEED :
-

(O.S) A :
La Yma beestoo (Yes, there they are!)

B :
I see Ben Quadinaros from the Tund system.

A :
...eh Gasgano doowa newpa Ord Petrovia! (And Gasgano in thenew Ord

Pedrovia.)

B :
Two time winner, Boles Roor...

A :
Poo tula moosta, woe grane champio Sebulba du Pixelito! Splastyleeya

bookie ookie!! (On the front line the reigning champion, Sebulba from

Pixelito. By far the favorite today.)

B :
And a late entry, Anakin Skywalker, a local boy.

A :
Wampa peedunkee unko ( I hope he has better luck this time.)

B :
I see the flaggers are moving onto the track.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - GRANDSTAND - DAY

Colorful canopies shade some of the SPECTATORS. VENDORS sell barbecued

creature parts and colorful drinks.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)

All the PILOTS bow from the waist as JABBA THE HUTT enters the box and

waves to the crowd.

FODE/BEED :
-

A :
O grandio lust, Jabba Du Hutt, amu intoe tah parena. (His honor, our

glorious host, Jabba the Hutt has entered the arena.)

The crowd ROARS. SEVERAL OTHER SLUG-LIKE HUTTS follow, along with humans

and aliens. Several SLAVE GIRLS on a chain are led alongside JABBA.

JABBA :
(subtitled) Chowbaso! Tam ka chee Boonta rulee ya, kee madda

hodrudda du wundee. (Welcome!) Sebulba tuta Pixelito...

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY

SEBULBA, who is right next to ANAKIN, stands and waves to his fans. A small

pep band plays as his fans wave and cheer.

KITSTER attaches the giant engins to Anakin's Pod with a long cable. SHMI

gives ANAKIN a big hug and kiss. She looks him right in the eye.

SHMI :
Be safe.

ANAKIN :
I will, Mom. I promise.

She 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. SEBULBA moves over to one of Anakin's engines. KITSTER and

JAR JAR unhitch the EOPIES, and KITSTER leads them away. ARTOO beeps that

everything is OK. JAR JAR pats ANAKIN on the back.

JAR JAR :
Dis berry loony, Annie. May da guds be kind, mesa palo.

PADME comes up and gives ANAKIN a little kiss on the cheeek. 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 :
I won't let you down.

PADME moves away as SEBULBA edges his way next to ANAKIN and gives him a

sinister grin.

SEBULBA :
Bazda wahota, shag. Dobiella Nok. Yoka to Bantha poodoo. 9You

won't walk away from this one, slave scum! You're Bantha poodoo.)

ANAKIN :
(subtitled) Cha skrundee da pat, sleemo. (Don't count on it,

slime-ball.)

ANAKIN looks the evil SEBULBA in the eye with a cold stare. QUI-GON

approaches, and SEBULBA backs off toward his racer.

JABBA :
(sutitled)...Ka bazza kundee hodrudda! (...Let the challenge

begin!)

The CROWD lets out a LOUD CHEER. QUI-GON helps ANAKIN into his Pod. The boy

straps himself into the tiny racer.

QUI-GON :
Are you all set, Annie? (Anakin nods) Remember, concentrate on

the moment. Feel. Don't think. Trust your instincts. (he smiles) May the

Force be with you.

QUI-GON 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.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY

The giant power-house engines torque as the PILOTS gun them. The PILOTS

flip switches, and poerful energy binders shoot between the engines. Aliens

carrying large flags move off the track. JAR JAR covers his eyes.

JAR JAR :
Mesa no watch. Dissen ganna be messy!

FODE/BEED :
-

A :
Ya pawa culka doe rundee! (The power couplings are being activated)

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

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY

SHMI looks nervously to QUI-GON as he enters a veiwing platform. PADME and

JAR JAR are already on board. The platform rises like an elevator.

SHMI :
Is he nervous?

QUI-GON :
He's fine.

PADME :
You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen...

QUI-GON :
The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden. You should too.

PADME :
You assume too much.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY (FX)

FODE/BEED :
-

B :
Start your engines.

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

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)

Jabba bites off the head of a frog and spits it at a gong, signaling the

start of the race.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY

On a bridge over the track, a great green light at the center flashes. The

Podracers shoot forward with a high-pitches scream. ANAKIN'S engine floods

and coughs - then dies. All the other Podracers except one swerve around

him and dissapear down the track. The slave boy struggles to get his racer

started. The two-headed announcer reports.

FODE/BEED :
- (O.S.)

A :
An dare ovv! (And they're off!)

B :
Oh...wait. Little Skywalker has stalled.

PADME and JAR JAR are very dissapointed with ANAKIN. QUI-GON puts his arm

around a very worried SHMI to comfort her. Finally, Anakin's engines

ignite. He zooms away after the receeding pack of competitors, leaving one

quadra-Pod racer still trying to get started. The two-headed ANNOUNCER

describes the race as it progresses.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote