Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Page #15

OBI-WAN gives ANAKIN a "who are you?" look. ANAKIN returns an innocent

stare.

QUI-GON :
We will be patient. Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi.

ANAKIN :
Pleased to meet you. Wow! You're a Jedi too?

OBI-WAN gives the boy a skeptical look.

INT. COCKPIT - SPACE

RIC OLIE pulls back on the hyperdrive. OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, and ANAKIN watch.

QUI-GON :
Let's hope this hyperdrive works and Watto didn't get the last

laugh.

The stars streak outside the cockpit window.

EXT. SPACE - NABOO SPACECRAFT (FX)

The ship streaks into hyperspace.

EXT. THEED - STREET - NIGHT (FX)

SEVERAL FEDERATION DROIDS patrol a deserted city street. The Palace can be

seen in the distance.

INT. NABOO PALACE - THRONE ROOM - THEED - NIGHT

NUTE sits in a strange, mechanical walking chair, which approaches SIO

BIBBLE and SEVERAL OTHER NABOO OFFICIALS. RUNE follows a few paces behind.

DROID GUARDS surround SIO BIBBLE and THE OTHERS as FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS

watch.

NUTE :
When are you going to give up this pointless strike? Your Queen is

lost, your people are starving, and you, Governor, are going to die, much

sooner than your people, I'm afraid. Take him away!

BIBBLE :
This invasion will gain you nothing. We're a democracy. The people

have decided... They will not live under your tyranny.

BIBBLE is taken away as OOM-9 approaches NUTE.

OOM-9 :
My troops are in position to begin searching the swamps for these

rumored underwater villages... they will not stay hidden for long.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - MAIN AREA

The ship is asleep. The lights are dim as PADME walks into the main room.

She goes to a monitor and watches the BIBBLE plea recording. JAR JAR is

stretched out on the floor, snoring. ARTOO is to one side, cooing as he

rests.

PADME appears tired. She senses someone watching her and turns around with

a start. She sees ANAKIN sitting in the corner, shivering and looking

verydejected. She goes over to him. He looks up at her with tears in his

eyes. He is holding his arms to keep himself warm.

PADME :
Are you all right?

ANAKIN :
It's very cold.

PADME gives him her over-jacket.

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

cold.

ANAKIN :
You seem sad.

PADME :
The Queen is...worried. Her people are suffering...dying. She must

convince the Senate to intervene, or...I'm not sure what will happen.

ANAKIN :
I'm...I'm not sure what's going to happen to me. I dunno if I'll

ever see you again.. (he pulls something from his pocket) I made this for

you. Sou you'd remember me. I carved it out of a japor snippet... It will

bring you good fortune.

ANAKIN hands a wooden pendant to PADME. She inspects it, then puts it

around her neck.

PADME :
It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you. Many things

will change when we reach the capital, Annie. My caring for you will always

remain.

ANAKIN :
I care for you too. Only I...miss...

ANAKIN is disturbed about something. Tears are in his eyes.

PADME :
...You miss your mother.

ANAKIN looks at her, unable to speak. She hugs him.

EXT. SPACE - PLANET CORUSCANT (FX)

MOVE with the ship as it heads toward Coruscant.

INT. CORUSCANT - CITYSCAPE - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX)

The spacecraft dlies over the endlesscityscape of Coruscant, the capital of

the galaxy.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT

ANAKIN looks out the cockpit window in awe.

RIC OLIE :
Coruscant...the capital of the Republic...the entire planet is

one big city.

ANAKIN :
Wow! It's so huge!

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX)

The ship flies through the cityscape of Coruscant.

EXT. CORUSCANT - SENATE LANDING PLATFORM - DAY

Supreme Chancellor VALORUM, SEVERAL GUARDS, and SENATOR PALPATINE stand on

a landing platform.

The sleek Naboo spacecraft lands on the platform high above the street

level of the galactic capital. The ramp lowers. OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, JAR JAR

and ANAKIN descend the ramp first and bow before PALPATINE and VALORUM.

CAPTAIN PANAKA, TWO GUARDS, QUEEN AMIDALA, then PADME, RABE, EIRTAE,

and

MORE GUARDS descend the ramp. QUEEN AMIDALA stops before the group.

ANAKIN and JAR JAR stand to one side, looking at the huge city. PADME

smiles at ANAKIN. PALPATINE bows before the Queen.

PALPATINE :
It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty. May I

present Supreme Chancellor Valorum.

VALORUM :
Welcome, Your Highness. It is an honor to finally meet you in

person. I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the currant

situation. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your

position.

AMIDALA :
I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor.

PALPATINE starts to lead QUEEN AMIDALA and her RETINUE off the platform

toward a waiting air taxi.

PALPATINE :
There is a question of precedure, but I feel confident we can

overcome it...

JAR JAR and ANAKIN start to follow, then stop, noticing that OBI-WAN and

QUI-GON are staying with the SUPREME CHANCELLOR. QUEEN AMIDALA waves to the

duo to follow her. ANAKIN looks back to QUI-GON, and he nods to go ahead.

ANAKIN and JAR JAR join the QUEEN, PALPATINE, PADME, RABE and EIRTAE in the

taxi. PALPATINE gives the Gungan and the boy in the back of the taxi a

skeptical look. JAR JAR leans over to ANAKIN.

JAR JAR :
Da Queens- a bein grossly nice, mesa tinks. (he looks around)

Pitty hot!

VALORUM and the JEDI watch the taxi move off into the city.

QUI-GON :
I must speak with the Jei Council immediately, Your Honor. The

situation has become more complicated.

INT. PALPATINE'S QUARTERS - ANTEROOM - DAY

QUEEN AMIDALA is sitting listening to PALPATINE. EIRTAE and RABE stand

behind the QUEEN; PADME is nowhere to be sen. ANAKIN and JAR JAR are

waiting in an adjoining room. They can see the Queen but cannot hear what

is being said.

JAR JAR :
Dissen all pitty odd to my.

ANAKIN :
Don't look at me. I don't know what's going on.

CAPTAIN PANAKA enters, then goes into the room with QUEEN AMIDALA.

INT. PALPATINE'S QUARTERS - LIVING AREA - DAY

PALPATINE is pacing as CAPTAIN PANAKA enters. EIRTAE and RABE stand 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 sytems. 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.

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?

PALPATINE :
Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger

Supreme Chancellor. One who will take control of the bureaucrats, enforces

the laws, and give us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence

in Chancellor Valorum.

AMIDALA :
He has been our strongest supporter. Is there any other way?

PALPATINE :
Our only other choice would to be to submit a plea to the

courts...

AMIDALA :
There's no time for that. The courts take even longer to decide

things than the Senate. Our people are dying, Senator...more and more each

day. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation.

PALPATINE :
To be realistic, Your Highness, I'd say we're going to have to

accept Federation control for the time being.

AMIDALA :
There is something I cannot do.

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