Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Page #2

NUTE and RUNE stand on the bridge, watching the view screen as the WHEEL

DROIDS' POV speeds to the doorway.

RUNE :
We have them on the run, sir...they're no match for destroyer

droids.

TEY HOW :
Sir, they've gone up the ventilation shaft.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - MAIN BAY

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN appear at a large vent in a giant hanger bay. They are

careful not to be seen. Thousands of BATTLE DROIDS are loading onto landing

craft.

QUI-GON :
Battle droids.

OBI-WAN :
It's an invisible army.

QUI-GON :
It's an odd play for the Trade Federation. We've got to warn the

Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum. Let's split up. Stow aboard separate

ships and meet down on the planet.

OBI-WAN :
You were right about one thing, Master. The negotiations were

short.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

TEY HOW recieves a transmission.

TEY HOW :
Sir, a transmission from the planet.

RUNE :
It's Queen Amidala herself.

NUTE :
At last we're getting results.

On the view screen, QUEEN AMIDALA appears in her throne room. Wearing her

elaborate headdress and robes, she sits, surrounded by the GOVERNING

COUNCIL and FOUR HANDMAIDENS, EIRTAE, YANE, RABE, and SACHE.

NUTE :
(cont'd) Again you come before me, Your highness. The Federation is

pleased.

AMIDALA :
You will not be pleased when you hear what I have to say,

Viceroy...Your trade boycott of our planet has ended.

NUTE smirks at RUNE.

NUTE :
I was not aware of such a failure.

AMIDALA :
I have word that the Senate is finally voting on this blockade of

yours.

NUTE :
I take it you know the outcome. I wonder why they bother to vote.

AMIDALA :
Enough of this pretense, Viceroy! I'm aware the Chancellor's

Ambassadors are with you now, and that you have beencommanded to reach a

settlement.

NUTE :
I know nothing about any Ambassadors...you must be mistaken.

AMIDALA, surprised at his reaction, studies him carefully.

AMIDALA :
Beware, Viceroy....the Federation is going too far this time.

NUTE :
Your Highness, we would never do anything without the approval of

the Senate. You assume too much.

AMIDALA :
We will see.

The QUEEN fades off, and the view screen goes black.

RUNE :
She's right, the Senate will never....

NUTE :
It's too late now.

RUNE :
Do you think she suspects an attack?

NUTE :
I don't know, but we must move quickly to disrupt all communications

down there.

INT. NABOO PALACE - THRONE ROOM

The QUEEN, EIRTAE, SACHE and her Governor, SIO BIBBLE, stand before a

hologram of SENATOR PALPATINE, a thin, kindly man.

PALPATINE :
...How could that be true? I have assurances from the

Chancellor...his Ambassaodrs did arrive. It must be

the...get...negotiate...

The hologram of PALPATIONE sputters and fades away.

AMIDALA :
Senator Palpatine?!? (turns to Panaka) What's happening?

CAPTAIN PANAKA turns to his SARGEANT

CAPT. PANAKA :
Check the transmission generators...

BIBBLE :
A malfunction?

CAPT. PANAKA :
It could be the Federation jamming us. Your Highness.

BIBBLE :
A communications disruption can only mean one thing. Invasion.

AMIDALA :
Don't jump to conclusions, Governor. The Federation would not

dare go that far.

CAPT. PANAKA :
The Senate would revoke their trade franchise, and they'd be

finished.

AMIDALA :
We must continue to rely on negotiation.

BIBBLE :
Negotiation? We've lost all communications!...and where atre the

Chancellors Ambassadors? How can we negotiate? We must prepare to defend

ourselves.

CAPT. PANAKA :
This is a dangerous situation, Your Highness. Our security

volunteers will be no match against a battle-hardened Federation army.

AMIDALA :
I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.

EXT. SPACE LANDING CRAFT - TWILIGHT (FX)

Six landing craft fly in formation toward the surface of the planet Naboo.

EXT. NABOO SWAMP - SHALLOW LAKE - TWILIGHT

Three landing craft slowly descend through the cloud cover of the

perpetually gray twilight side of the planet. One by one, the Federation

warships land in the eerie swamp.

OBI-WAN's head emerges from the mud of a shallow lake. For in the

background, the activities of the invasion force can be seen in the mist.

OBI-WAN takes several deep breaths, then dissapears again under the muddy

swamp. Troop Transports (MTT's) emerge from the landing craft.

EXT. NABOO EDGE OF SWAMP / GRASS PLAINS - TWILIGHT (FX)

The droid invasion force moves out of the swamp and onto a grassy plain.

OOM-9, in his tank, looks out over the vast ARMY marching across the

rolling hills. A small hologram of RUNE and NUTE stands on the tank.

RUNE :
...and there is no trace of the Jedi. They may have gotton onto one

of your landing craft.

OOM-9 :
If they are down here, sir, we'll find them. We are moving out of

the swamp and are marching on the cities. We are meeting no resistance.

NUTE :
Excellent.

EXT. NABOO SWAMP - TWILIGHT

QUI-GON runs through the strange landscape, glancing back to see the

monstrous troop transports, emerging from the mist. Animals begin to run

past him in a panic.

An odd, frog-like Gungan, JAR JAR INKS, squats holding a clam he has

retrieved from the murky swamp. The shell pops open. JAR JAR's greta tongue

snaps out and grabs the clam, swallowing it in one gulp.

JAR JAR looks up and sees QUI-GON and the other creatures running like the

wind toward him. One of the huge MTT's bears down on the JEDI like a

charging locomotive. JAR JAR stands transfixed, still holding the clam

shell in one hand.

JAR JAR :
Oh, noooooooooo!

JAR JAR drops the shell and grabs onto QUI-GON as he passes. The JEDI is

caught by surprise.

JAR JAR :
(Cont'd) Hey, help me! Help me!!

QUI-GON :
Let go!

The machine is about tp crush them as QUI-GON drags JAR JAR behind him.

Just as the transport is about to hit them, QUI-GON drops, and JAR JAR goes

splat into the mud with him. The transport races overhead.

QUI-GON and JAR JAR pull themselves out of the mud. They stand watching the

war machine dissapear into the mist. JAR JAR grabs QUI-GON and hugs him.

JAR JAR :
Oyi, mooie-mooie! I luv yous!

The frog-like creature kisses the JEDI.

QUI-GON :
Are you brainless? You almost got us killed!

JAR JAR :
I spake.

QUI-GON :
The ability to speak does not make you intelligent. Now get outta

here!

QUI-GON starts to move off, and JAR JAR follows.

JAR JAR :
No...no! Mesa stay...Mesa yous humble servaunt.

QUI-GON :
That wont be necessary.

JAR JAR :
Oh boot tis! Tis demunded byda guds. Tis a live debett, tis. Mesa

culled Jaja Binkss.

In the distance, two STAPS burst out of the mist at high speed, chasing

OBI-WAN.

QUI-GON :
I have no time for this now...

JAR JAR :
Say what?

The two STAPS barrell down on OBI-WAN.

JAR JAR :
(cont'd) Oh, nooooo! Weesa ganna....

QUI-GON throws JAR JAR into the mud.

QUI-GON :
Stay down!

His head pops up.

JAR JAR :
...dieeee!

The two troops fire laser bolts at OBI-WAN. QUI-GON deflects the bolts

back, and the STAPS blow up. One-two. OBI-WAN is exhausted and tries to

catch his breath.

OBI-WAN :
Sorry, Master, the water fried my weapon.

OBI-WAN pulls out his burnt laser sword handle. QUI-GON inspects it, as JAR

JAR pulls himself out of the mud.

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